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Religion & Spirituality. Nonfiction. HTML: "Do you remember the hospital, Colton?" Sonja said. "Yes, mommy, I remember," he said. "That's where the angels sang to me." When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren't expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed--a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy's trip to heaven and back. Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery--and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read. With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how "really, really big" God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton's uniquely simple words, Heaven is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, "Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses.".… (more)
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The book is well written and there are some nice black and white photos of the family in the middle of the book. I decided to read this book because it was written by a pastor, and
Unfortunately, in order to believe this story your have to make some choices in what you want to believe. Either Colton visited heaven while still alive or he died on the table and the surgeon, anesthetist, and nurses didn’t notice. There was no mention by the doctors in talking with the parents or in medical records that Colton died on the surgical table. Also, there is a time problem. Colton talked about seeing God shoot power down to his dad while preaching. This means either Colton’s father was preaching while the child was in surgery (he was not) or there was some time traveling going on. His father explains this away by saying he was in “God’s time”, which really doesn’t make sense.
The author’s strongest evidence is that the child talks about a deceased family member and a miscarriage his mother suffered, both of which he supposedly had no knowledge. I find it hard to believe that at no time was this child away from the parents and in the care of another family member who could have mentioned these events or even just overheard his parents talking about it. Other events mentioned by Colton sound more like Sunday
School 101.
I really wanted to like this book because I am a believer, but I think this child’s parents are reading way too much into his precocious and creative behavior.
Anybody that read about the childcare sex abuse news back in the late 80's or who has had small children knows that very young kids will toss back at you what they think you want to hear. While I think this child did have some sort of spiritual experience I think he told his Dad what he had heard about God and Jesus at home and at pre-school Sunday School. I think Heaven is beyond our mortal comprehension and it is a serious case of hubris to think all of it is as simple as a movie about super heros. I refuse to believe we all get wings there and that only the menfolk will fight Satan with swords at the end of times! Best part of the book was the title his sister suggested for the book that has come out now that the boy is 12........He Went To Heaven but He's No Angel!
Colton was nearly four years old when a near-death experience awarded him a tour of heaven. The book is written by his father, a minister. In heaven, Colton met his great grandfather, a sister who died in the womb, and the angel
We do learn a little about what heaven is like. Everybody has wings and little lights over their heads. There are lots of colors there, lots of animals of every kind (including a lion!), and lots of swords. The swords are for the angels to keep Satan outside the pearly gates.
The first person to greet new arrivals into heaven is Jesus, and Jesus had plenty time to chat with Colton. Know why Jesus had to be crucified? Says Colton, “Jesus told me he died on the cross so we could go see his dad.”
There is one theme in the book that troubled me a bit. After Colton’s return from heaven, he would become very apprehensive at funerals, desperate to know if the fellow who died had “let Jesus into his heart.” Because, he knew, otherwise the man wouldn’t be going to heaven. The author’s comment? Man, those Sunday school teachers sure are doing a good job! That picture made me a little sad; a four-year-old boy hardly needs that kind of religion.
Many of the images described by Colton can be found in the book of Revelation. That’s a bit problematic in one sense. As a scholar of Revelation and first-century Jewish beliefs, I assure you that Revelation was never meant to describe “heaven.” Several passages in Revelation make it very clear that the Bible’s final book relates the Jewish expectation of a general bodily resurrection and a new earthly kingdom. Why, then, would I afford Burpo’s book five stars if it differs from my interpretation of scripture? Because Christianity is a growing religion! Colton’s experience is contemporary; it is indicative of today’s image of heaven, not yesterday’s. Today, we anticipate a different kind of reward. We now imagine the pearly gates welcoming us to heaven instead of to a new world power centered in a rebuilt Jerusalem. Colton’s heaven is warm and friendly, far better than Revelation ever imagined. I vote we let Colton rewrite the end of the Bible.
My rating is ☆★★★★.
9/27/14
“Heaven is for Real” By: Todd Burpo
In the book “Heaven is for Real” by, Todd Burpo, his at the time 4 year old son experiences a life changing event. Colton, Todd’s son, had to get an appendectomy and following more surgeries for abscesses found after. During one of these
I decided to read “Heaven is for Real” because I knew this book was a movie so I wanted to read it. I really enjoyed reading this book because of how astonishing Colton’s experience actually was. His supposedly tragic story about being in a hospital for many weeks and getting multiple surgeries, had an amazing outcome. Both his parents, Todd and Sonja, were very strong to stand by Colton throughout his entire experience at the many hospitals. This book took place at many different places, Colton was treated at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte and before that at the hospital in Imperial, Nebraska, which was their home town.
Overall, I thought this was an Inspiring and engaging book and even though there are many ties with a religious faith I believe anyone would enjoy reading it.
1.) I would have never read this of my own accord. I read it only for book club.
2.) I was skeptical going in.
3.) Though I'm a born-and-raised Catholic, I would classify myself as an agnostic, at best.
4.) I'll also admit I skimmed huge chunks of this
Things that Bothered Me (in no particular order):
1.) The first half of the book is the father rambling about his illnesses. Yes, I'm very sad the guy had kidney stones and breast cancer and [some other ailment I can't remember]...but I don't see what any of that has to do with the kid getting sick.
2.) If this was all so moving, why did they wait seven years before writing the book?
3.) The kid is 11 now. Don't you think that's old enough that he could have wrote the book on his own? Or at least contributed a chapter in his own words?
4.) Others have said this, but it bears repeating: isn't it convenient that this miracle happened to a pastor's kid? The dad keeps going on and on about how Colton just "couldn't have known" about so much of this religious stuff. Really? Kids are remarkably perceptive. I would find this all much more moving if it had happened to a kid who had never heard "the good word."
5.) The parents only dragged the story out of the kid over the course of years. As a parent, this is extremely odd to me. If my kid started telling me one day he'd been to heaven, you better believe I'd be asking some questions, and right now, not five years later.
Finally (and this verges on a rant), it kind of annoys me how many Christians are saying that this changed their life / moved them to be better parents / etc... I'm sorry...you have the Bible. The WORD OF GOD isn't enough for you? It takes a fairy tale as told by a three year old to convince you that maybe you should get your act together and start acting like a Christian?
Fundamentally, I was just the wrong person to read this book. I am not its target audience. A belief in heaven presupposes a belief in God. Until you can sell me on that, there's not much this (poorly written, highly questionable) book is going to do for me.
ETA (2/2012): I think it's pretty clear I think this particular book is crap. However, if you're interested in first-hand, post-death experiences, I'd suggest reading, "90 Minutes in Heaven". It's similar in its premise--a man dies, spends 90 minutes in heaven, comes back and tells his story--, BUT it's experienced by an adult and told by that same adult. (Unlike "Heaven", which is merely the dad's retelling of the kid's story.) I read it several years ago, but remember being much more impressed by it. I will offer the caveat that I was a much better Catholic/Christian at that time than I am now, so that likely colored my perception of the book. However, even accounting for that, "90 Minutes" is certainly the better written book.
Perhaps as I've grown weary of those who preach about not throwing stones become the ones who catapult the boulders, I've shaken my head and moved along.
Perhaps realizing that I fall very far from traditional Christian beliefs, I'm also hope and believe that random acts of kindness are important and treating others how you want to be treated is indeed a golden rule to try to follow. And, I know that in judging the conservative view that unless one finds Jesus they will not get to heaven, I'm in some way judging those who believe this.
Years ago a wonderful Islamic friend asked her leader how it can be that even though I helped her tremendously when her husband died unexpectedly, that unless I profess Islam I will not go on to the next level when I die. At that same time I attended a bible study class wherein there was a very heated discussion by the leader of the group who told me my Islamic friend would be going to hell because she did not profess Jesus and her Lord and Savior.
I don't doubt the story line of this book. Four year old Colton Burpowas rushed to the hospital with a burst appendix, barely surviving, his minister father and Christian mother do what most would do in this situation...They prayed. Miraculously Colton recovered. I understand and believe in prayer and I wholeheartedly know the power of it.
After his recovery Colton begins to tell his family about his three minute death and transition into heaven. He relates many vivid details that parallel the teachings of the bible. I didn't have a problem with this part of the story. I do believe there is another life that awaits us.
What bothered me about the book was the literal translations and the overwhelming platitudes that ozzed off each page.
It is an amazing story, but I do have questions about it. That doesn’t really mean I believe or disbelieve the story as I’m not sure how I feel about it and probably never will be sure. I hesitate to express any doubts about the story because I know it has given several Christians hope and a renewed faith. Also, and most importantly, if it is true I wouldn’t want to go against God in any way, shape, or form. However, after thinking about it, I decided to go ahead and write a review of the book detailing my questions.
First, the background. Colton gets very very ill (I don’t want to spoil the reason why) and nearly dies. Several months after his recovery, Colton begins saying things about his time in the hospital that make his family believe that he has, in fact, been in heaven. The details don’t come all at once but over a course of months and even years. Colton not only gives descriptions of heaven, but also of family members he should know nothing about. The tale is inspiring and amazing if true, but the questions I have about the story are these:
This is a minor mistake, but in the book Mr. Burpo stated that North Platte was 3 hours from Denver and 8 hours from Omaha. Not true — I’ve driven I-80 and I-76 along this route many many times. It’s more like 3.5 hours from Denver and 4 from Omaha. North Platte is almost directly halfway between the two cities. This mis-statement was the first that raised a tiny red flag in my mind. If he was wrong about this, could he be wrong about other facts?
Colton said that in heaven Jesus still had the holes in his hands, feet, and side. I don’t dispute that that may well be the case. However, there is some debate in Christian circles whether the nails were actually in Jesus’ hands or his wrists. I don’t know the correct answer to this, but Colton pointed to his palms when describing them. I’m just saying that some Christians would have a problem with this.
Colton said he remembered clearly what Jesus looked like. He would always say that all the pictures he saw of Jesus were wrong, until he saw one painted by Akiane Kramarik, another child who states she has seen visions of heaven. However, the painting is of a ‘Western’ Jesus, where in reality, Jesus was Jewish and should have Jewish/Middle Eastern features. Then, when I went to Akiane’s site and blog, it appears she’s not really Christian in the sense that most Christians consider themselves to be Christian. She talks about goddesses of earth and water and her opinion that we can find heaven on earth now. Both are views that most Christians would surely deny.
Also, it bothered me a little bit that actual people’s names (other than the family’s) were used. Maybe they gave their permission, but I know that most people in very small towns wouldn’t want that. I wouldn’t, but that’s me.
It’s not for me to determine if the story is true, only God can know that. The story is interesting, and I’m sure it has given a lot of people comfort and hope. It has to be up to every reader to decide.
I realize the size of the town has little to do with the book, but the point I'm trying to make is the author had little to work with when writing the story other than Colton's experiences in heaven and that wasn't going to fill a book.
I am a Christian and with all the bible quotes, sermon's (Colton's father is a pastor at a small church) and what not I found my religious upbringing very useful in understanding concepts in the book explained by using this type of informtion. I also think it added to the authenticity of what Colton experienced in heaven.
Like the father mentions several times throughout the book, many people call themselves believers, but still have their doubts, especially about heaven, because you can't see it or go there. I don't think you need to be a Christian or even a believer, but it doesn't hurt when reading this book.
All in all it was a good and simple story and the list is long of friends who are waiting for me to be done reading this so I can pass it on to the next person and that is what a book is all about; enjoying it and sharing it with others. This book meets those criteria.
This book will make you laugh, cry, and believe that heaven is for real.