"Heaven is for Real"

Author: Todd and Colton Burpo
Genre: Religion/Beliefs
Publisher: Nelson, Thomas Inc, 2010
Pages: 208
My Rating: Highly Recommend

Heaven is for Real offers food for thought and presents challenges for the reader.

Synopsis (book jacket): Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.

Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us.

 
Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle.

Review: I had heard this was a fast read and that it was hard to put down. I agree on both counts. I read it in less than an hour and a half from 1:44 to 3:13am. It's a good thing it's a fast read because I was going to stay up until I finished it. It's compelling and it's well-written.

I was drawn in and I bought "it" - hook, line, and sinker. I woke up this morning thinking. . .hmmm, I hope it's true. If in fact it is true we have a lot to look forward to. I believe God still speaks to us, although more often than not I think as a culture we choose to ignore, not recognize, or discredit those conversations. I also believe in heaven mainly because I want/need to believe such a place exists.

That said, I'm wrestling with Heaven is for Real and probably will for a long time. Why the Burpos, why this little boy, why now? What does this all mean? Plus, it's a little convenient that this happened to a small-town preacher's family who admittedly have bills to pay. I can't help but look at both sides of this. If this is a hoax, it's still worth the read and the Burpo's will get their just reward for fabricating this or stretching the truth.

Heaven is for Real offers a lot of food for thought and challenges those of all faiths as well as those who don't believe in God/heaven at all and for that reason I highly recommend it.