A Quick Review Of Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boys Astounding Story Of His Trip To Heaven And Ba

Since I was a teenager many, many moons ago, Ive been engaged by stories of near-death encounters and have read a variety of publications on the subject, some having a religious twist; others without the need of. These stories have strengthened my belief in an afterlife and delivered me some comfort when loved ones passed away. I have noted the numerous similarities as well as the significant differences in the experiences of the writers, so it was with significant anticipation that I agreed to read and review Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo, the story of his young sons experience in heaven. I also looked forward to comparing a three-year-olds experience with stories alleged by older subjects that I had read about in the past. But, while it was an entertaining (for the most part) and fast read, I have to admit it left me with lingering queries, not entirely convinced of the asserted truth behind this story.

Colton Burpo is only a few years old when his appendix bursts and he nearly dies, the event that lead to his heavenly visit.Todd Burpo,Coltons dad and on top of that the pastor of Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Imperial, Nebraska, tells the tale.

Coltons illness followed a calendar year of family travails that were so completely consuming' that the Crossroads congregation branded Todd Pastor Job. Just when things are looking up, the household takes a road trip. Not long into the journey, Colton becomes very unhealthy. His mom and dad, thinking its only a bad case of gut flu (partly because his sister, Cassie, displayed identical symptoms on the exact same night) put off seeking medical attention. Once they do go for help, Colton is admitted to the hospital but the medical professionals dont seem to be capable of diagnose his sickness. After a number of nights through which Colton gets worse and worse, his dad and mom move him to a different hospital, where he is finally diagnosed after his appendix has ruptured and has surgery. His ailment is touch-and-go for a handful of days. More surgery follows to take away the poison from the rupture, and finally Colton begins to recover.

During the very first surgery, Todd has a crisis of faith. All alone in a very small room in the hospital corridor, he lashes out at God: Is this how you treat your pastors? Is it worth it even to serve you?

I think its fascinating to note that Colton never mentions his heavenly visit while hospitalized and even the very first several weeks home, although there definitely were unusual conversations. A week after he came home, Todd and his wife Sonja go over their expenses to decide which ones need to be paid now and which might wait. They decide their tithing check has to be written, but some of the medical charges can wait. Suddenly, Colton walks in the room, looks at his dad and says, Dad, Jesus used Dr. OHolleran to help fix me. You need to pay him.

Bit by bit, information emerge, as Todd pushes Colton to tell him more about his experience over the following year. These are some of the things Colton says occurred during his visit to heaven:

1.Did you know Jesus had a cousin? Jesus told me his cousin baptized him, he told his dad, referring to meeting John the Baptist. According to his parents, that wasnt something he had yet studied in Sunday School.

2.Colton said he met Mary, Jesus mother.

3.He tells his parents Jesus has marks on his hands and feetalso something his parents say he had not learned.

4.He says he met his sister, a baby his mother had miscarried before he was born, and his fathers grandfather. He had no way of knowing about either of them.

5.Heaven is full of beautiful colors, angels, and regular peopleall of whom have wings.

6.Jesus sits on the right side of God, and Gabriel sits at his left. (Yes, Colton says he met God, too. Several times he refers to God as Jesus dad.)

7.Jesus has a horse. Not just any horsea rainbow horse. He explains that heaven is filled with animals and lots of colors.

Over the next few years, Todd softly presses Colton to tell him far more about his heavenly visit. Coltons responses are constantly matter-of-fact, and he occasionally runs into issues seeking to explain things with terms he doesnt understand. For example, Todd asks him if he previously looked at Gods throne.

Whats a throne, Daddy? Colton replied.

Todd explains, A throne is like the kings chair. Its the chair that only the king can sit in.

Oh,yeah! I saw that a bunch of times! Colton replies.

As you'd anticipate from a pastor, Todd Burpo does his due diligence, taking each experience Colton relays to him and looking affirmation from the Bible. Despite the fact that he is able to confirm enough to fulfill himself that Colton must have saw something, he readily admits that he couldnt validate all the things his son says, like why Colton is adament that everybodynot just angelsin heaven have lights over their heads.

Personally, I had not as much trouble believing everybody has haloes than believing that only Christians go to heaven. Colton is adament over and over that Jesus really, really loves children, yet he becomes disturbed at funerals if there is any doubt that the person who has passed had accepted Jesus as his Savior. Would Jesus then not really, really love a child who wasnt Christian?

All in all it is an interesting and thought provoking read and to some degree poses more questions than it answers. Despite this given Colton's age it does off a uniques and to some degree innocent perspective.

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