The Temple Cleasing and the Fig Tree

In the miracle of the fig tree, found in Mark 11 and Matthew 21, Jesus makes a compelling statement. According to both accounts, Jesus had just spent the night in Bethany after a grueling day at the temple. Do you remember the scene? Tables were overturned, doves, oxen and sheep were driven out, and the moneychangers were hotly rebuked and chased away. It was a day the disciples would not soon forget. Yet it was a day that the people forgot.
Upon careful examination, we see that this is the second time Jesus cleanses the temple. John 2 records the first time, when Jesus threw everyone out who was providing high-priced cheap substitutes for sacrifices. Though they appear similar, the two accounts can be distinguished by Jesus’ words. During the first cleansing, He said,
“Take these things from here; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” Jn. 2:16
During the second cleansing he stated,
“My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” Mt. 21:13
Do you see the progression? First He called the temple His Father’s house; then it became My house. The very next day, Jesus returned to the temple and proclaimed,
“Behold YOUR house is left unto you desolate.” Mt. 23:38
The people had no regard for God’s purpose for the temple—as a house of prayer and genuine sacrifice—even though Jesus had cleansed it twice. As a result, He departed. The presence of God was physically removed. The temple was left desolate. The implications of this event are sobering. God cleanses and prunes, enabling us to enjoy the power of answered prayer and satisfying fruitfulness. But those who go back to a lifestyle of cheap sacrifices and pretentious prayers find themselves living in an empty house of unfulfilled desires.
All of this sets the stage for Jesus’ encounter with the fig tree. In the morning, Jesus returned to Jerusalem. He was hungry. Seeing a fig tree afar off, He had hoped to find figs. When He found none, He cursed the tree, and immediately it began to wither away. Note that Mark 11 states that “the time of figs was not yet.” If this were true, then the tree could not have borne fruit because figs were not yet in season. On a purely human level it seems that Jesus’ expectations for fruit bearing were a bit unreasonable. Why did He expect to find fruit if figs were not in season?
G. Campbell Morgan tells of a variety of fig trees that bore fruit prior to bearing leaves.* It was called “early fruit,” and is mentioned in Isaiah 28:4. Not fulfilling its creative purpose, Jesus cursed the tree saying,
“No man eat from thee, hereafter forever.” Mk. 11:14
What was Jesus trying to teach? He desires fruit. Bearing fruit nourishes and encourages others. A tree that bears no fruit is useless; but worse, a tree that gives the “appearance” of fruitfulness is in danger of judgment! It might as well shrivel up and die. However, we are still faced with the fact that figs were not yet in season. The problem is not in the absence of figs but in the presence of leaves. The presence of leaves would have led a hungry traveler of that day to believe that figs were present, since figs grew prior to the leaves. I have seen this variety of fig tree for myself. The figs grew first and then the leaves. The presence of leaves suggested fruit, but when it was examined closely, Jesus found it barren. Therefore, Jesus pronounced this curse, “No man eat from thee, hereafter forever.” He wanted to make sure that others would not be led astray by its “appearance of fruitfulness.” The warning is clear—Beware of those who love to pray with long prayers, who love to sit in the most important seat, who love to be seen of men—beware lest you follow their ways. Beware that your righteousness is only in appearance.
Both the cleansing of the temple and the miracle of the fig tree should remind us that God created us for the purpose of fruit bearing…both for Himself and for others. We must bear fruit so that others can be fed, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Heb. 13:15-16) We cannot manufacture our own fruit, however. It must spring forth from a life that thirstily drinks in the nutrients of His Word and is cultivated with unceasing prayer and sacrifice.
Do you remember how the disciples responded as they viewed the withered tree? They said, “How fast is the fig tree withered away!” (Mt. 21:20) I’m afraid I would have been just as oblivious. My dialogue would have gone something like this: “Master, I can understand your disappointment that this tree didn’t provide your breakfast, but don’t you think you’re going a little bit too far?” And, of course, I would have missed the lesson, as did the disciples and the worshippers at the temple.
Now, if the cursing of the fig tree wasn’t confusing enough, Jesus compounds the confusion with His following remark:
“Have faith in God.” Mk. 11:22
What does faith have to do with cursing the tree? Matthew records,
“Verily I say to you, if you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also, if you shall say to this mountain, be removed, and be cast into the sea, it shall be done.” Mt. 21:21
Confused? I love how Scripture interprets itself. The next verse gives us a clue. “And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.” Prayer! Do you remember where Jesus had been the day before? He had cleansed the temple because His house was a HOUSE OF PRAYER! When he found fruitless, faithless, and fake people, he abandoned it. He left it desolate. He went to His house hoping to find fruit—the result of faith—but found none. Could this be why the children of Israel found themselves in bondage under Roman oppression, even though they had prayed and sacrificed daily in the temple? Their prayers could not be heard because their faith was no longer demonstrated in love for one another. Rather, they demonstrated a pursuit of self-indulgence, cheap sacrifices, and an appearance of righteousness. There simply is no short cut with God. Jesus continues,
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mk. 11:25-26
Do you see the connection? The entire context, from the cleansing of the temple to the cursing of the fig tree, involves prayer and its life-changing power to bring forth fruit. Jesus expects fruit from our lives, and He will inspect without prior notice. He expects both the early and later fruit. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, and without the active pursuit of forgiving others, we will not be able to experience the removal of mountains in our lives. The mountains that only prayer can remove are dependent upon our love and forgiveness of one another.
The Christian life is really not that difficult—faithful obedience to God is demonstrated by forgiveness toward one another. Forgiveness is an act of faith. Once we begin to practice this faith toward God, we will see “how fast” the barren trees of our lives wither away, and the mountains are removed!

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Never Alone

David and Teresa Ferguson have written a timely book that exposes the hidden hurts and despair in which many couples find themselves trapped. The message is simple – it is not good for a man or woman to be alone. Practical examples filled with biblical insights renew hope and breathe new life into damaged relationships – even those that appear beyond repair. May you find the following excerpt to be life-changing:

God created each one of us with a need to be deeply known by others. Something within us cries out, “Please know me!” This cry is like the warning light on the dashboard of your car. If you don’t respond to it soon, something “not good” will happen to your car. When our inner cry for intimacy is not addressed, something “not good” is the result. In a marriage relationship you have two people who long to be known and who have the opportunity to become Christ’s colleagues in filling that longing. And when one or both spouses fail to pursue an increasingly intimate acquaintance with the other, they each in their own way suffer the “not good” of being alone.
Intimacy in a marriage relationship involves getting to know your spouse (yada) and allowing your spouse to know (sod) you. Vulnerable self-disclosure means that you share with your spouse your hopes, dreams, joys, and fears. It means that you communicate openly your needs and desires in the relationship. The double-sided intimacy of deeply knowing and being known by your spouse is vital to removing aloneness in your marriage.
During one of our conferences for ministry leaders, a pastor approached Teresa and me to share his wife’s problem. “She is a bundle of fear, anxiety, and insecurity,” he explained. “She’s afraid of flying, afraid of the dark, afraid of driving in traffic, afraid of strangers, afraid of…practically everything. Being so fearful and paranoid, she tries to control everything and everyone around her. She figures that if she can be in complete control of her life, she won’t be afraid. She controls not only her own schedule and activities but also my life and our kids’ lives. If the beds are not made perfectly or the dishes are not loaded into the dishwasher just so, she blows up at us. She’s driving us crazy.”
“Pastor, where has God put some of his perfect love that will cast out your wife’s fear?”
Catching the drift of my question, he started backing away. “Hey, I didn’t think I would have to be involved in this!”
How did this man come to such a conclusion? He was locked in the common belief that his wife needed only God to solve her problem. But underneath this wife’s fear, insecurity, and control issues was a woman who was very alone. This pastor was blind to the fact that God wanted to enlist him as a colleague in loving his wife, casting out her fear, and removing her aloneness. As a result, their marriage and family life were in shambles. She was alone, and it was not good.
The “not good” of aloneness may take many forms in a marriage relationship. When we do not experience God’s blessing and provision for our aloneness, we become vulnerable to discouragement. Many couples struggle under the pressure of strained finances, territorial fights, and threats of leaving. Many more suffer in silence.

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Is It Worth It?

Standing in the emotionally-charged atmosphere of the auction house, I was prepared to offer $65; maybe I’d go as high as $80. I was pumped. This crock with the painted blue rooster would make a charming planter on my front porch. But when the bidding started at ten thousand dollars, I shrank in my chair. The house was packed with lively bidders. “Ten thousand, who’ll give twelve, twelve, who’ll give me fifteen? Fifteen, do I hear eighteen? Now twenty, twenty-one to you, twenty-two? Twenty three; now twenty four, twenty five thousand? The nods of composed bidders continued. Twenty-six thousand… SOLD! For twenty-six thousand.” I felt like this was part of a surrealistic dream. How could anything so ordinary be worth so much? Now let’s be realistic—it was only a crock.
Later I learned about the value of the crock with the painted blue rooster. A well-known artist had created that piece, and his skill and craftsmanship had been highly regarded through the years as being valuable. Because I did not understand the value of the crock and the artist who created it, neither could I understand nor appreciate the price these bidders were willing to pay. They knew its value, and they were willing to pay the price.
Understanding value is critical in the world of antiques and investments; it is even more critical in relationships. If we underestimate the value of someone, we will not be willing to do whatever it takes to protect the relationship—to pay the price. How many times do we think, “It’s just not worth it!” “Worth” is another important word in understanding the idea of “paying the price.” Though value and worth are almost synonymous, the difference in meaning is worth no-ting. “Value,” according to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, is to estimate the worth of something. The primary meaning of “worth,” according to Webster, is strength. “Worth” originally signified a court or a farm, such as Wordsworth or Woolworth, and suggested the strength of the farm. I live next to the Woolworth estate and am in awe of the beauty of this magnificent farm with its stone house, stone walls, and hundreds of acres of pastures overlooking a quiet lake. This property helps me to understand how value is determined by the worth of something—its inherent “strength.”
An antique dealer examines a piece of furniture and determines its time period and the artisan who crafted it. He can determine the “strength of the piece” by identifying certain features that make one piece worth more than another. I enjoy Mission furniture. But there was a time when I didn’t know much about it—until I learned that the furniture in my barn was original Stickley Mission oak furniture. It had been sitting in the barn with the horses! Little did I know, it was worth tens of thousands of dollars. I’m embarrassed to say, I even turned the bookcase upside down and used it as a saddle holder! You should have seen my face when a collector lifted one of the pieces and showed me the red horseshoe engraved in the wood—the Stickley insignia. He then began to show me the beauty of the furniture, how the wood was joined together with mortise and tenon, how the slats were placed in square holes to make it stronger. The strength of the piece, demonstrated by the skillfulness of the craftsman, indicates its worth, which ultimately determines its value.
In relationships, we need to appreciate the value and worth of one another. As parents interact with their children, they need to let them know that they are valued. We can easily convey this truth by demonstrating unconditional acceptance, mercy, forgiveness, and love. Worth, on the other hand, cannot be received freely; it is earned by cultivating skills and developing strength of character.
Children need to see that their parents are willing to pay whatever price is necessary (value) in order to increase and cultivate their skill and strength (worth). In this process of conveying value and cultivating worth, a child will begin to grow in confidence and be willing in return to pay the price.
God valued me when I was worthless. He paid a significant price for me, and as a result of this sacrifice, I know how much I am valued. Furthermore, the more I realize the significance of the price He paid for me, the more I am willing to pay whatever price is necessary for me to cultivate my skills and character—to live a worthy life.
For he who has been forgiven the most (and understands it) loves the most. (Luke 7:47) Therefore, when someone is valued, regardless of their worth, they are more apt to reciprocate by responding in appreciation and living a life that is worthy. Victor Hugo, in his epic drama, Les Miserables, demonstrates how undeserved value awakens the heart of an ex-convict to become a worthy citizen. Jean Valjean is a perfect example of how valuing someone with little worth can dramatically transform a life. How much more our own children?
If I had had a proper appreciation for the artist who had created the crock with the blue rooster, and an understanding of its worth and value, I would have had the confidence to pay the price (having the money would have helped, too.) Then I would have been able to enjoy its beauty—perhaps in my living room, not as a planter on my porch! Understanding the value of our children and each other should serve as an incentive for us to look beyond their weaknesses and pay the ultimate price to cultivate their worth.

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The Strength of Civilization

The follwing is an insightful excerpt from Dr. Dobson’s article in Focus on the Family Magazine:
Question:
You have said on several occasions that a society can be no more stable than the strength of the individual family units. Specifically, you said sexual behavior is directly linked to survival of nations. Explain how that principle works.
Dr. Dobson Responds:
A book could be written on that topic, but let me give you a short answer to it. This linkage you referred to was first illuminated by J. D. Unwin, a British social anthropologist who spent seven years studying the births and deaths of eighty civilizations. He reported from his exhaustive research that every known culture in the world’s history has followed the same sexual pattern: During its early days of existence, premarital and extramarital sexual relationships were strictly prohibited. Great creative energy was associated with this inhibition of sexual expression, causing the culture to prosper. Later in the life of the society, its people began to rebel against the prohibitions, demanding the freedom to express their internal passions. As the mores weakened, the social energy abated, eventually resulting in the decay or destruction of the civilization.
Dr. Unwin concluded that the energy that holds a society together is sexual in nature. When a man is devoted to one woman and one family, he is motivated to build, save, protect, plan, and prosper on their behalf. However, when male and female sexual interests are dispersed and generalized, their effort is invested in the gratification of sensual desires. Dr. Unwin wrote: “Any human society is free either to display great energy, or to enjoy sexual freedom; the evidence is that they cannot do both for more than one generation.”
It is my belief that the burgeoning social ills seen in Western nations, including rising crime rates, drug abuse, sexual exploitation of children, and the disintegration of families, can be traced to the disintegration of traditional values and biblical standards of morality.
There is another reason widespread immorality and avant-garde attitudes are dangerous to the stability of nations. Human beings are sexual creatures, both physically and psychologically. Our very identity (“Who am I?”) begins with gender assignment and the understanding of what it means to be masculine or feminine. Virtually every aspect of life is related to this biological foundation. Who can deny the hormonal forces and the neurological wiring that shape the way we think and behave? Given this nature and the vast significance it carries, even the most promiscuous playboy should understand the implications of sexual license and the upheaval it can foment. Any revolution of such proportions is certain to have far-reaching consequences for the family and the culture in which it exists. How can we expect to preserve social order when the rules governing our sexual behavior are turned upside down?

Notes
224. Joseph Daniel Unwin, “Sexual Regulations and Cultural Behavior,” address given on 27 March 1935, to the medical section of the British Psychological Society, printed by Oxford University Press (London, England).
This article was excerpted from Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide by Dr. James Dobson with the permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

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A Thankful Faith

Imagine living during the time when having leprosy meant being excommunicated from civilization. Often lepers were forced to live outside the city with other lepers—away from family and friends—with no interaction with the world of “whole” people. Food was scarce, and the deplorable living conditions only compounded the hurt, loneliness, and disease.

When ten lepers heard about Jesus’ miraculous power to heal, they ran to Him, begging for mercy. Jesus granted them health under one condition—they must go and show themselves to the priests. By law, a “cured” leper was required to receive validation and permission from the priests to be reinstated into society. Nine lepers ran to the priests, but one stopped, turned around, and with a LOUD voice glorified God. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and took the time to give thanks. He delayed personal gratification.

So often in our quest to fulfill our own desire, we forget to pause and consider all that God is doing in our lives. In our driven frenzy we are so eager to rid ourselves of pain that we fail to stay intimately connected to the One whose grace and mercy shapes our lives and delivers us from all our troubles (Ps. 34). Delaying personal gratification is an acceptable sacrifice to God when it is demonstrated by sincere thankfulness.

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Add to Your Faith

We often camouflage our character flaws and hide our sin in order to protect ourselves. We compensate for our weaknesses and make excuses. When we come face-to-face with our weaknesses and our sin, we want to run and hide. But if we understand how much we are loved and valued by our Heavenly Father, we will be drawn out from our hiding places and step into the light. In his first epistle, John writes:
“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:7, 8.
When we hide our weaknesses, we live in perpetual fear because we have not understood the light of God’s love and His marvelous power to change our lives. When we walk in the light we can enjoy fellowship with other believers. We can fight the battle together, rather than hiding. Believers who have experienced the cleansing freedom and victory that Christ offers can bring hope to those who continue to struggle with besetting sins.
“And hope makes us not ashamed.” Rom. 5.
Hope is what makes being a child of God so wonderful. Because of God’s love toward us, we need never be afraid of rejection for any reason. For twenty-five years I have confessed my sins and failures to my heavenly Father and not once was I afraid to approach Him. His love for me is so incredible that I never think twice about coming into His presence to find grace to help in the time of need.
When someone loves us unconditionally, we are more willing to admit our faults. When we hide our sin, we are misunderstanding the true nature of God and His intentions for us. God is intrinsically good. God is love. Listen to what John says:

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to satisfy the penalty for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9, 10.

John reminds us that God proved His love by sending His Son. Greater love cannot be demonstrated. He also reminds us that “God is love” and that “there is no fear in love.” No fear. No matter how badly you have messed up, you don’t have to be afraid to approach your Father, who loves you immeasurably.
John goes on to say, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment…”
Since the first temptation with Eve, Satan has been trying to distort this wonderful truth about God. The devil wants you to believe God doesn’t have your best interest in mind—that God is keeping something from you. He caused Eve to question God’s intentions, and he continues to do the same today. And yet, some will say, “If God loves me then why does he allow me to suffer like this?” God is love, and He desires only what is best for us. “There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.” Now this doesn’t mean that God will not chasten you. But when He does, it is because He loves you and wants you to experience His best for you. He wants you to enjoy Him and find pleasure within His boundaries!
If we continue to run and hide, we are often left with a void. We seek substitutes to fill the painful void. These substitutes are often found in the form of eating disorders, pornography, adultery, homosexuality, and a host of other attractive addictions. I say attractive because Satan’s deceptions are attractive at first. He is an angel of light who offers tasty fruit as he did with Eve. But beware—his fruit eventually leaves a bitter taste and is rotten to the core.
A recent study found that those suffering from sexual and drug addictions had something in common. During extramarital sexual relations and addictive drug use, a chemical is released in the brain that causes increased dependency, leaving the addict unfulfilled by his temporary fixes. Men who pursue gratification via pornography, adultery, or fornication find themselves in an uncontrollable cycle of sin and cannot figure out how to overcome the entrenchment. Thus they are left with an addiction that gives only temporary pleasure.
Researchers also found that a chemical released during sexual relations within the boundaries of marriage was identical to the chemical released during breastfeeding. This chemical creates a “bonding” effect between husband and wife, and mother and child.* In contrast to the chemical released for deviant sexual behavior and drug abuse, this chemical creates pleasurable and fulfilled satisfaction. There is great joy in finding pleasure within the boundaries of God’s design!
When we find ourselves outside this boundary and can’t seem to find the way back, the answer is to live by obedient faith. The Apostle Peter understood the rewards of obedient faith—he had learned so many lessons the hard way. But none-the-less, it is Peter that Jesus encourages to strengthen the brethren, once he had learned his lesson. Note the emphasis on faith in their dialogue:
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and when you have returned to me, strengthen the brethren.” (emphasis mine) Lk. 22:31, 32.
I guess if we are going to learn from someone who has been there, there is no one better to listen to than Peter. In his second letter he reminds his readers that they indeed can escape the lustful corruptions that are in the world if they are willing to give all diligence, adding to their faith virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. 2nd Pet. 1 Through faithful obedience, we can break the cycle of sin.
We are to add these seven character traits to our faith. The word “add” carries the idea of “adding at your own expense.” The word is derived from a Greek word denoting the celebration of one’s citizenship. A new Greek citizen was required to defray the cost of the celebration ceremony. The price he was willing to pay determined how elaborate the celebration would be. The new citizen’s willingness to “pay the price” demonstrated how much he valued his new citizenship and his potential worth to the society. The greater the expense, the greater the celebration. Our joy is directly related to the price we are willing to pay to live by loving obedient faith.
These seven character traits must be added to our faith to help us escape the lustful corruption that is in the world. This list begins with faith and ends in love. But it will take obedient faith. It will require faith for husbands to love their wives and not be bitter against them. It will take faith for wives to show respect to their husbands when it seems so undeserved. It will take obedient faith for children to honor their parents, especially when they are being treated unfairly.
Peter tells us to give all diligence! Each time we exercise faith, we need to be diligent. The word “diligent” refers to the reigning in of a wild horse. In those weak areas of our lives, God wants us to reign them in like a runaway horse. As we do, little by little we will fall less frequently and will begin to enjoy the satisfying pleasures of God. And there is no better way to enjoy the pleasures, especially when one has paid the price—at one’s own expense!

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Take the First Step

The following paragraph was written to a husband and wife who were experiencing severe marital problems. Both had been hurt, and both were unwilling to take the first step toward reconciliation. The first step is always the most difficult and most important step to take, especially when the problems seem insurmountable. It is a step in faith.
“Right now you are both seeing the Red Sea in front of you, with nowhere to turn. The Egyptians are right on your heels. Do you remember this scene in the movie of the Ten Commandments? There stood Moses upon that rock as he waved his rod, majestically shouting to the children of Israel,
‘Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord your God.’
What you might not realize is that in the very next verse of Scripture, God rebuked Moses for telling them to stand still! God told Moses to stop whining like a baby and to go forward into the water! The sea didn’t part until they stepped into the water! This took faith. You see, without faith it is impossible to please God; and without faith, the roadblocks of life cannot be broken. Faith...obedient faith is needed if you want to make it to the other side. One of you must take the first step.”

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Core Values

“Observe the world around you. See how it works. Never fall in love with anything you do – progress, do better, move forward. Never walk away from a problem without a solution. If you’re assigned ten, do twelve to fifteen. Have a long-term vision and stay true to core values. Core values start with family and end with family. My willingness to persevere, sacrifice, and do my best has allowed my family to reap the benefits. Integrity and honesty are non-negotiables.”
“Integrity is everything.”

The preceding comments were recorded during an interview on July 15 with Richard Hutting, Ford Motor Corporation’s premiere Executive Designer of some of the world’s best-selling cars and trucks. Having designed over 120 vehicles, including Ford’s famous F150, Jaguars (including the S-type), Lincolns, and the new 2005 Mustang, which ingeniously was reformed into its former heritage, the original Pony Car, Richard is Ford’s secret weapon. Though he is greatly esteemed for his unique design abilities, Richard is highly respected for other reasons. He lives by core values. Looking at my son David, he said, “My core values start with family and end with family, with honesty, hard work, and integrity as foundational. Integrity is everything.”
We were breathing in years of wisdom and insight. David and I both knew that God had orchestrated our meeting that day. It was a day that I had prayed for and dreamed of—a day when God would place someone in my son’s life that would inspire him in his career choice, encourage him, help build his confidence, and give him direction. This was a pivotal moment – a turning point. In David’s own words, “This was one of the best days of my life.”
Richard is a great role model for David. His work ethic demonstrates how commitment, hard work, promptness, and personal sacrifice yielded success. He is a man of his word. When the cost of a design project had exceeded his projections, for example, Richard was willing to take a personal monetary loss in order to hold true to his word. In the end, this paid great dividends. Ford was so impressed with Richard’s efficiency, work ethic, and core values that they purchased his company, allowing him to work exclusively for Ford. He believes that his success with Ford—and Ford’s success—is a result of living by core values.
Today, if you were to drive by Richard’s stealth operation, you would be surprised that so many of Ford’s premiere designs originated in such an inconspicuous facility. Truly it is not that which appears on the outside that is most important, but that which is at the core.
David and I would like to express our sincere thanks to Mr. Hutting for giving of himself and being such an inspiration. Indeed, the time spent has made a difference.

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One of the most important lessons that I have learned from the Lord this year is to agree with my adversary quickly. Our Lord gave us a very significant and simple way to resolve conflict, yet in twenty-five years of being a Christian, I have never heard anyone recommend this process. Maybe I didn’t have ears to hear at the time.
“Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.” (Matt. 5:25)
In the context, Jesus is talking about being angry against a brother without a cause. We often rationalize our anger as a just cause. As I look back and consider my harsh reactions and angry outbursts, I realize that the root cause was my own selfish heart. The emotion of anger is a built-in “alert system” that something is not right. It is to be heeded and dealt with in a mature, godly way. But selfish outbursts are unjustifiable. An angry reaction to a child’s disobedience does not justify this behavior, nor do marital disagreements. In fact, angry outbursts only drive a wedge between us and those we love. Too often we use anger as a manipulative method of trying to change others to meet our own selfish desire.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns us that angry, hostile, and demeaning criticism toward another person places one in danger of hell fire. (Matt. 5:22)
I believe that John, in his first letter, supports this teaching when he says:
“He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now.”
(I Jn.2:9)
“If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar.” (I Jn. 4:20)
As I began to ponder this line of reasoning, I was left with a decision—a decision that went against my pride and desire to be in control. Being spoken to with disrespect causes me to react. This was the case one evening, which marked the beginning of a long-term conflict. I am trying to handle disputes with grace and mercy, but disrespect eats away at me like a cancer. I thought I had handled this particular situation reasonably, but my family heartily disagreed. My thoughts haunted me, “Should I take the initiative to resolve this conflict?” Each time I tried, the conflict only worsened. “This is their problem, not mine,” I reasoned. But the Scripture teaches that when a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies be at peace with him. If this is true, then why can’t I bring peace in my own home? They are not my enemies—they are the very people I love the most. What must I do, Lord?
“Agree with thine adversary quickly.” The words jumped off the pages of the Bible. Agree? quickly? What is the Lord teaching? Sometimes it is not necessary that we understand, but that we obey. I knew that God had raised up adversaries in the Old Testament to chasten and discipline his children, but could He be using my own family as a divine adversary? What did I have to lose? I had tried my own methods for months and that didn’t work. I tried to weather the storm, but even though conditions seemed tempered, the initial seeds of hostility had never been replaced with seeds of love and mercy.
I will obey…Agree? Where do I start? Listen to their hearts. Understand their perspective, and dwell with them according to knowledge. Oh, the inner pain of humility! As I learned to agree quickly with my adversary, I saw God gradually healing and restoring relationships. This is not an easy principle to follow for those who are not accustomed to admitting wrong, but for those who desire the reward of restored relationships, it is as simple and quick as the words “I agree.”

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The greater the endurance, the greater the joy. Enduring affliction is often followed by deep satisfaction and joy. Perhaps we rob ourselves of that joy because we are afraid to endure—to pay the price of suffering. Perhaps our fear of suffering blinds us to the reward that awaits us. We underestimate the value of the reward. Lance Armstrong didn’t underestimate the value of the reward even though he was suffering with cancer and told he would never race again. Five years later he won first place in the Tour de France for the fifth consecutive time. He has not only received great monetary rewards, but he is rewarded in knowing that his example has given hope and courage to many who face serious obstacles in their lives. There is nothing more fulfilling than knowing that your life really can make a difference in someone else’s life.
The apostle Paul also suffered much affliction, yet he was filled with confidence and joy. What was his secret? He understood that even as he suffered, God was restoring him, shaping him, and rewarding him with immeasurable love and power to overcome life’s obstacles for the benefit of others. His reward was worth the price. Paul shares his heart as he admonishes the Corinthians:
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body…for which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
I Cor. 4:9-17
Paul contrasted his affliction as light and his reward as weighty. Now I am not inferring that your trials are light. I know personally that some of you are suffering in abusive marriages, some are bearing the pain of a wayward teenager making harmful choices, another has lost his influence and leadership in his own home, and another waits for her husband and best friend to wake up from an 8-week coma. I think of a lovely woman whose husband ridicules and shames her for being slightly overweight. My heart goes out to the family of a loving pastor whose ministry changed abruptly when a heart attack paralyzed him with brain damage and blindness. Why must we go through hardships such as these? Because God is working in each of us a far more eternal weight of glory. Because we know that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.
I know… it’s easy to write about, but so difficult to endure the pain, at least without seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. What will give us the strength to endure? It is the promise of eternal, unquenchable joy. The book of Hebrews says:
…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Heb. 12:1-3 NAS
I would just like to encourage you to continue to run the race of life with endurance, and be not weary in well doing. Do not get discouraged, for we will indeed reap a harvest of blessing. Gal. 6:9

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Presently, I am rereading Fenelon’s book Let Go after seven years. As I began to read the first two letters, I could not help but laugh because, for the first time in six months, my heart and soul are no longer shackled by the corrupting influence of self. I am finally (at least for now) learning that hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. (Prov. 10:12) That only by pride comes contention. (Prov. 13:10) That the heart is sick when hope is deferred. (Prov. 13:12) That the merciful man does good to his own soul. (Prov. 11:17) That in the multitude of words there is no lack of sin, but he who refrains his lips is wise. (Prov. 10:19) That before honor is humility. Pro. 15:33
How long will it take me to understand that it is God who works in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure? (Phil. 2:23) His good pleasure? Sometimes I wonder if God gets some sort of cheap thrill out of sending trials our way just for His good pleasure. Of course I know this is not true. God is working in us so that we can enjoy His good pleasures. Now we know that no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are exercised by it. Heb. 12:11 – 15
The challenge is responding in love when I feel my rights have been violated, rather than harshly attacking and defending myself. This is why Paul warns us to do all things without murmurings and disputings. (Phil. 2:14) Oh, the difficulty of holding my tongue, especially when I’ve been hurt or misunderstood! But God in His infinite wisdom knows exactly what is best.
I would like to share Fenelon’s first two letters in his book, Let Go. Hopefully, you will be blessed as I was this morning:
The Advantages of Humility
“I often pray to God that He would keep you in the hollow of His hand. And this He certainly will do if you remember to keep a humble and obedient spirit. Humility is good in every situation, because it produces that teachable spirit which makes everything easy. And you, of all people, would be more guilty than many others if you made any resistance to the Lord on this point. For on the one hand, the Lord has taught you so much on the necessity of becoming like a little child; and on the other, few people have had an experience more fitting to humiliate the heart and destroy self-confidence. The good that comes from any experience of personal weakness is the realization that God wants us to be lowly and obedient. So may the Lord keep you!”
How to Bear Suffering Peacefully
Even now my soul is suffering, but I am aware that it is the life of self which causes us pain; that which is dead does not suffer. If we were really dead, and our life hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3), we would no longer struggle with those pains in spirit that now afflict us. So we must learn to bear all sufferings with composure, even those which come upon us through no fault of our own. But we must beware of that restlessness of spirit which might be our own fault. We can add to our God-given cross by agitated resistance and an unwillingness to suffer. This is for self. And when you accept your cross this way, even though it is painful, you will find that you can bear it in peace. But when you receive your cross unwillingly, you will find it to be doubly severe. The resistance within is harder to bear than the cross itself! But if you recognize the hand of God, and make no opposition to His Will, you will have peace in the midst of affliction. Happy indeed are they who can bear their sufferings with this simple peace and perfect submission to the will of God! Nothing so shortens and soothes suffering as this spirit of non-resistance.
But usually we want to drive a bargain with God. We would at least like to suggest some limits so that we can see an end to our sufferings. We don’t realize how we are thwarting the purposes of God when we take this attitude. Because the stubborn clinging to live which makes the cross necessary in the first place, also tends us to reject that cross—at least in part. So we have to go over the same ground again and again.
We end up suffering greatly, but to very little purpose. May the Lord deliver us from falling into that state of soul in which crosses are of no benefit to us. God loves a cheerful giver according to St. Paul in Second Corinthians 9:7. Ah! What must be His love for those who, in cheerful and absolute abandonment, give themselves completely to be crucified with Christ!

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The following story is an excerpt from the book Never Alone. I believe the story speaks for itself, but I would like to add a snippet of information that supports the truth of this powerful example. In Psalm 103, King David says, “As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”
The word “pity” is literally the word for compassion. The Hebrew word for “compassion” carries the idea of a mother’s womb—a place of comfort where one is safe and protected. Children (and adults) who are secure, who sense that their emotional needs have been cared for, are less likely to resist authority and are better equipped to bear disappointments. When one’s feelings have been valued, intimacy deepens. Respect is reciprocal.
“Intimacy is not a product of facts, logic, or reason; it is the outflow of a loving heart. Sometimes we make this idea of relating to each other on an emotional level too complicated. In reality, connecting emotionally is a matter of letting compassion flow in the normal, daily ups and downs of life together. Connecting emotionally is so basic that even a child can understand it. One of our coworker couples has a four-year-old granddaughter named Mattie. Grandpa and Grandma love to have Mattie visit and spend the night, and during one such visit, Grandma announced that it was bedtime. Mattie was having such a good time playing that her face clouded over with disappointment. Grandma pulled little Mattie up on her lap and said, “I know you are so disappointed. I think you need some comfort.” Grandma held Mattie for several minutes and shared gentle, comforting words that identified with Mattie’s disappointment. Mattie soon settled down and got ready for bed without complaint.
Weeks later, Mattie and her mother Joyce stopped by to see Grandma. “Mom, a few days ago Mattie was struggling over some minor disappointment,” Joyce said during the visit. “She turned to me and said, ‘Mommy, I think I need some comfort.’ I asked Mattie what she meant, and she said that Grandma gave her comfort and it helped. So she wondered if I could do it too. What was she talking about?”
Grandma turned to her granddaughter. “Mattie, show me what comfort looks like.” Little Mattie slipped over to her grandma and hugged her tenderly. Then Grandma said, “Mattie, what does comfort sound like?” Still holding her grandma affectionately, Mattie said, “It sounds like, ‘I’m sorry you’re sad.’”
“Compassion isn’t complicated. Even a small child can grasp its purity and simplicity because it comes from the heart, not from the intellect.”
In Psalm 103, David tells us that “the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor punish us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.”

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“Measure thy life by loss instead of gain; not by the wine drunk, but the wine poured forth; for love’s strength standeth in love’s sacrifice, and whoso suffers most hath most to give.” – The disciples
According to our Lord’s teaching, we can make the most of our life by losing it. The alabaster vase must be broken, that the ointment may flow out to fill the house. The grapes must be crushed, that there may be wine to drink. The wheat must be bruised, before it can become bread to feed the hungry.
It is so in life. Whole, unbruised, unbroken men are of but little use. True living is really a succession of battles, in which the better triumphs over the worse, the spirit over the flesh. Until we cease to live for self, we have not begun to live at all.
We can never become truly useful and helpful to others until we have learned this lesson. One may live for self and yet do many pleasant things for others; but one’s life can never become the great blessing to the world it was meant to be until the law of self-sacrifice has become its heart principle.
A great oak stands in the forest. It is beautiful in its majesty; it is ornamental; it casts a pleasant shade. Under its branches the children lie; among its boughs the birds sing. One day the woodman comes with his axe, and the tree quivers in all its branches, under his sturdy blows. “I am being destroyed,” it cries. So it seems, as the great tree crashes down to the ground. And the children are sad because they can lie no more beneath the broad branches; the birds grieve because they can no more nest and sing amid the summer foliage.
But let us follow the tree’s history. It is cut into boards, and built into a beautiful cottage, where human hearts find their happy nest. Or it is used in making a great organ which leads the worship of a congregation. The losing of its life was the saving of it. It died that it might become deeply, truly useful.
People said that Harriet Newell’s beautiful life was wasted when she gave it to missions, and then died and was buried far from home—bride, missionary, mother, saint, all in one short year,—without even telling one heathen woman or child the story of the Saviour. But was that lovely young life indeed wasted? No; all this century her name has been one of the strongest inspirations to missionary work, and her influence has brooded everywhere, touching thousands of hearts of gentle women and strong men. Had Harriet Newell lived a thousand years of quiet, sweet life at home, she could not have done the work that she did in one short year by giving her life, as it seemed, an unavailing sacrifice. She lost her life that she might save it. She died that she might live. She offered herself a living sacrifice that she might become useful.
In heart and spirit we must all do the same if we would ever be a real blessing in the world. We must be willing to lose our life—to sacrifice ourself, to give up our own way, our own ease, our own comfort, possibly even our own life; for there come times when one’s life must literally be lost in order to be saved.
It was at Fredericksburg, after a bloody battle. Hundreds of Union soldiers lie wounded on the field. All night and all next day the space was swept by artillery from both armies, and no one could venture to the sufferers’ relief. All that time, too, there went up from the field agonizing cries for water, but there was no response save the roar of the guns. At length, however, one brave fellow behind the ramparts, a Southern soldier, felt that he could endure these piteous cries no longer. His compassion rose superior to his love of life.
“General,” said Richard Kirkland to his commander, “I can’t stand this. Those poor souls out there have been praying for water all night and all day, and it is more than I can bear. I ask permission to carry them water.”
The General assured him that it would be instant death for him to appear upon the field, but he begged so earnestly that the officer, admiring his noble devotion to humanity, could not refuse his request. Provided with a supply of water, the brave soldier stepped over the wall and went on his Christ-like errand. From both sides wondering eyes looked on as he knelt by the nearest sufferer, and gently raising his head, held the cooling cup to his parched lips. At once the Union soldiers understood what the soldier in gray was doing for their own wounded comrades, and not a shot was fired. For an hour and a half he continued his work, giving drink to the thirsty, straightening cramped and mangled limbs, pillowing men’s heads on their knapsacks, and spreading blankets and army coats over them, tenderly as a mother would cover her child; and all the while, until this angel-ministry was finished, the fusillade of death was hushed.
Again we must admire the heroism that led this brave soldier in gray so utterly to forget himself for the sake of doing a deed of mercy to his enemies. There is more grandeur in five minutes of such self-renunciation than in a whole lifetime of self-interest and self-seeking. There is something Christly in it. How poor, paltry, and mean, alongside the records of such deeds, appear one’s selfish strivings, self-interests’ boldest venturings!
We must get the same spirit in us if we would become in any large and true sense a blessing to the world. We must die to live. We must lose our life to save it. We must lay self on the altar to be consumed in the fire of love, in order to glorify God and do good to men. Our work may be fair even though mingled with self; but it is only when self is sacrificed, burned on the altar of consecration, consumed in the hot flames of love, that our work becomes really our best, a fit offering to be made to our King.
Special thanks to Gene Fidele for the gift of this precious book by J.R. Miller. Pure Gold!

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