Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is a well-known story from an unknown author.

Text:  John 7:24.

A couple, the woman in modest attire and her husband in a simple suit, arrived unannounced at Harvard University's principal office after disembarking from a train at Boston Station. The receptionist, judging them hastily, initially dismissed their purpose.

"We would like to meet with the principal," the man requested quietly.

"He's occupied all day," the secretary curtly replied.

"We'll wait," the woman asserted.

Hours passed with the couple patiently seated, prompting the secretary to reluctantly inform the director of their persistence.

"Perhaps if you meet with them briefly, they'll leave on their own," she suggested.

Grudgingly, the director acquiesced. Upon their entrance, he scrutinized them with a stern gaze.

 The woman spoke softly:

"Our son studied here and cherished this place. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly a year ago. We wish to establish a memorial in his honor."

The director, visibly annoyed, retorted, "We can't erect memorials for every student who dies. It would turn this place into a cemetery."

"No, not a memorial or statue," the woman interjected hastily. "We wish to build a new building for Harvard."

The director scoffed, noting their modest attire, "Do you have any idea how much that would cost? Our buildings are valued at over seven million dollars."

The woman paused briefly before calmly saying to her husband, "Is building a university that inexpensive? Perhaps we should start our own."

With a nod of agreement, they left without further discussion. The director was left bewildered as the couple departed.

In Palo Alto, California, they indeed founded a university in memory of their son – Stanford University.

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

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Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Obedient Out Of Passion?

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is a short message from David Schaal that I wanted to share with you. 

Text:  John 14:15.

The other day, Hunter my 6 year old shocked me as I came in the door. He said Dad, did the trash man come yet? I said, “I think so,” he said,” Good, I will go get the trash can and bring it in.” I thought, “ I am such a great leader, I have taught my son the responsibilities of taking care of and taking pride in his chores. I watched him run to the curb, and joyfully bring in the trashcan. 

As I was sitting eating my lunch, reality hit. Hunter comes up to me and says, “Dad, it sure is hot out there, do you think we can go swimming?” Now- I did not know, what just happened here? Was I being set up?- Was he only performing his chores because he hoped to gain something, or was he doing it out of enthusiasm?

When we react in obedience to God, is it because we are trying to set God up? Or are we obedient out of passion?

The Key To Revival

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is part of a book called God's Generals (The Revivalists), Roberts Liardon.

Text:  Psalm 51.

THE KEY TO REVIVAL.

Charles Finney felt that prayer played a major part in the work of the revival. He wrote that “the key which unlocked the Heavens in this revival was the prayer of [Abel] Clary, Father Nash, and other unnamed folk who laid themselves prostrate before God’s throne and besought Him for a divine outpouring.” 

When Charles heard that Clary was in town, he remarked, “I have not seen him at any of our meetings.” The man who told him of Clary’s attendance responded, “No...he cannot go to meetings, he says. He prays nearly all the time, day and night, and in such an agony of mind that I do not know what to make of it. Sometimes he cannot even stand on his knees, but will lie prostrate on the floor, and groan and pray in a manner that quite astounds me.” Charles replied, “I understand it; please keep still. It will all come out right; he will surely prevail.”

He knew what this spirit of prayer was doing and he knew better than to do anything to interfere with it. Of this kind of fervent prayer, Charles said, I have never seen a person sweat blood, but I do know a person who prayed until his nose bled. And people have prayed until drenched with sweat, even in the coldest winter. Some have prayed for hours until their strength was exhausted from the labor of their minds. Such prayers reached out and took hold of God.

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

William Roop's books

Spiritual Trust

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is a funny story about trust from an unknown author.

Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 9:10.

 The story is told of the pioneer days in our country. A man was making his way west when he came to the Missouri River. It was winter and the ice covered the river from bank to bank. But how could the man be sure it would hold his weight? He knew people often drowned in that river when the ice broke. Yet he had to cross. 

He walked out a little way, then gripped with fear he crawled on his hands and knees. He looked back and saw how far the bank was now behind him and knew he would drown if the ice broke and the frigid water swallowed him up. To spread his weight even more, he lay out flat on his belly and slowly drew himself sliding across the river a few inches at time. 

All of a sudden from behind him he heard whistling. He whipped his head around and there saw a big man, a farmer, walking across the ice leading a team of horses drawing a heavy wooden sleigh full of hay. He was smiling and whistling and tipped his hat. The timid man stood and brushed off the ice crystals and managed a sheepish smile. That old farmer had crossed the ice many times and knew it could be trusted.

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

William Roop's books