THE ROOM was actually written by speaker and author Joshua Harris
and is in his book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye."  He says it was something
that he put on paper as the result of a dream he had while in Puerto Rico
for the 1995 Billy Graham Crusade and published in his magazine the same year.
Brian Moore was real. He lost his life as the result of a traffic accident shortly
after having presented THE ROOM for the meeting of Christian athletes.
His friends and family believed that he had written it and the story about Brian
was passed along to others sincerely.  Joshua Harris told TruthOrFiction.com
that he appreciates people getting the facts straight about the origins of The Room.

The following is a partly true, partly false story. I tried to edit out the false parts.
17-year-old Brian Moore went to Teary Valley High School. Brian Moore died
May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's
house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck 
a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed
power line and was electrocuted.

I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make
something out of it, Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want 
to share their son's vision of life after death. I'm happy for Brian.
I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him. The Room... 

"The Room" Essay



Brian's Book of his LIFE

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room.
There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with
small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list
titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which
stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction,
had very different headings.

As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was
one that read "Girls I have liked".

I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked
to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.
This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for
my life, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and
curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly
opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet
memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would
look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

FILE NAMES

A file named Friends was next to one marked
"Friends I have betrayed".

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird.
Books I Have Read
Lies I Have Told
Comfort I have Given
Jokes I Have Laughed at

Some were almost hilarious in their exactness:
Things I've yelled at my brothers

Others I couldn't laugh at:
Things I Have Done in My Anger
Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents

I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more
cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the
sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time
in my years to each of these thousands or even millions of cards?
But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting.
Each signed with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked
"TV Shows I have watched" I realized the files grew to contain their contents.

The cards were packed tightly, and yet after 2 or 3 yards, I hadn't found
the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of
shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked  "Lustful Thoughts"
I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out
only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a
card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to
think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind:
No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to
destroy them! In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't
matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one
end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card.

I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel
when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file
to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long,
self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore

"People I Have Shared the Gospel With"

The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused.
I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than 3 inches long fell
into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. Then the
tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in
my stomach and shook through me.

I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the
overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves
swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know
of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

JESUS Co-Signs



But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him! Not here!
Oh, anyone but Jesus! I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read
the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could
bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed
to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?
Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with
pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head,
covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His
arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word.
He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files.

Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and,
one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.
NO! I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was

NO! NO! as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't
be on these cards! But there it was, written in red so rich,
so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was
written with His blood. He gently took the card back.
He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards.

I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly,
but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last
file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my
shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up, and He
led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door.

There were still cards to be written.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 

God so loved the world that He gave His only son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
but have eternal life.

BUY the song 'Written in Red'

THIS IS THE JUDGMENT
that the Light has come into the world, 
and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, 
for their deeds were evil.  

GOD so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
Eternal LIFE. For God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

He who believes in Him is not judged;
he who does not believe has been judged already, 
because he has not believed in the name of the only 
begotten Son of God.  John 3:16-19





Click CHAT for Places to Chat
CHAT IS NEVER SAFE!