Book review: “Heaven Is For Real”
Full disclosure: I went to college with Todd Burpo. In fact, he was the editor of the college paper when I started on the staff. If that affects how you read this review, so be it. But now you know.
If you don't believe in the supernatural, then this isn't the book for you. Because the story of a very sick little boy visiting heaven, and then returning back to his mom and dad on earth, is gonna freak you out. If you don't believe in heaven, then it was just a dream. But then you have more questions…like how could a boy see people in dreams that he didn't ever see in real life, and know who they were?
If you do believe in heaven, then you'll love this book. You'll love how it makes heaven seem closer and more real than it's ever seemed before. You'll love how some of the things you thought you knew are confirmed or challenged by the experiences of one young boy who actually went, then came back to tell the tale. In one of the promo-plugs on the book's back cover, Ron Hall says the book "will encourage those who doubt and thrill those who believe." Exactly! Background: Colton Burpo had appendicitis…except the doctors didn't recognize it. His appendix burst, filling his body with infection for days before they finally realized what was happening. By then, it was almost too late. The surgeon went in, but as Colton lay on the operating table he experienced something supernatural, leaving his body and looking down on the doctors at work and his dad in another room begging God for his son's life. Colton goes to heaven, where he meets relatives gone before and even Jesus Himself. When he survives the operation and bounces back remarkably fast, the family is thankful for a miracle, but they don't yet know the extent of the blessing.
Slowly, over months and even years, Colton's story comes to the surface in snippets of conversation. As they drive by the hospital where he was, he says, "That's where the angels sang to me." That's the beginning of the adventure for Colton's parents, as they slowly unearth the depth of his experiences in a world not our own.There's a lot to like about this book. It's a quick read, but it's engrossing. The fast pace and short chapters make you think "I'll just read one more chapter," until it's very late at night, or until you've come to the end of the book.
There are two things I particularly appreciate about the narrative. First, I appreciate Todd's transparent honesty, both as a dad watching his son hover on the doorstep of death, and as a pastor and Christian trying to find God in the midst of horrific, heart-rending circumstances. Colton's illness came at the end of a year of numerous challenges for the Burpo family. The whole family thought they were due for some good news, a break in the long line of hard knocks they'd been enduring. Todd doesn't pull any punches in describing how he railed at God as his son was on the operating table, pleading and bargaining and demanding answers for his prayers.
Todd is also honest about how hard it was to accept the kindnesses of friends (and strangers) to carry their family through a time that could have sunk them, spiritually, emotionally and financially. He shares how they were used to being the pastor, the helper, the ones who cared and provided for others in times of need. It wasn't completely comfortable for them to be the ones in need, and at first they struggled to adjust to that role. His insights are worth reading for all of us, whether we have needs or meet needs.
As a believer, what I love most about the book, though, is how it takes heaven from an unfocused, sepia-toned someday to a here-and-now reality, a place that exists, a place where believers will go and be united with Jesus and reunited with loved ones who've gone on before. Through the eyes of a child we see these things with our own eyes, and they become more real. The Bible talks about Christians being "strangers and aliens" on earth whose real home is heaven. For homesick believers, "Heaven is for Real" is a wonderful postcard calling us toward home.
18 comments:
Thanks. I will have to pick up a copy.
Your assessment of the book so, right on! I loved it!! I pray that many will read it and either be encouraged or challenged!!!
Thanks for the great review. If anyone is interested, an excerpt from the book can be found on Scribd at http://scr.bi/c2i0WH.
For the sake of honesty, I'll first say I'm a bit skeptical about this story.
If the boy had managed to provide ALL the information up front then it would be much more impressive, in my opinion, and leave less room for skepticism.
As is, the idea that the boy was implicitly (unintentionally) "coached" via hints, responses, and leading questions by his parents would seem to also explain how he provided some information that his parents might find amazing about their dead relatives. For example, his father might have already given him information about his grandfather (who he seems to love deeply, making it improbable that he'd never talked about him before). It's also quite easy to imagine that his fathers unskeptical or even credulous questioning provided the boy with more information in "snippets" over the months. At the end, the boy would be able to take these pieces and assimilate and weave them into a more coherent story that he could never tell - and in fact didn't know - at the beginning.
There is also the more negative possibility that this book is an actual cynical attempt at manipulation by the father in order to benefit (either as a pastor, or in book sales).
Ultimately, I don't think this is simply a case of writing it off as a dream or as genuine, but that the options are spread across a spectrum of possibilities.
Sorry this extra comment is just so i can subscribe to comments
Iain:
Thanks for chiming in from beautiful New Zealand!
Skeptical is fine...cynicism less so but understandable in 2010...but don't let it stop you from reading the book!
The amazing thing is that the boy met the grandfather as a YOUNG MAN in heaven. He didn't recognize pictures taken later in life or shortly before his death...but when he saw an old picture of the grandpa as a young man, he immediately knew who it was.
If it was the father's "hints" being repeated, it seems more likely to have been of grandpa as an old man, the way he was the last time the father saw him. Do you agree?
As to hearing the story all at once...the boy wasn't even 4 when this happened. What 4-year-old sits down for a few hours and tells a long, coherent narrative all at once? Four-year-olds talk about what they're thinking about, and their thoughts wander quickly!
I encourage you to read the book, then you can judge more fully whether to believe or not.
Thanks for the review. Would like to read the book. Sounds very interesting. I have an 8 year old and a six year old and so can relate that the story might come out in pieces that wouldn't be immediately discernible. Like the boy who said "I want to be doctor when I grow up (Dad gets all proud)... or a dinosaur!"
I am a christian and believe!!! This is the greatest book on Heaven being for real as I have ever read!! I pray lives will be changed by this book!!
This is the greatest book I have read on "Heaven" !! I'm a Christian and I believe! I pray this book will change people's lives that don't belive!!
This book is amazing and life changing, from comments I've read here and other places those that scoff haven't read the book. I'm glad this book was written and truly believe it is written in good faith and not to con anyone, but to share and help those who have lost loved ones, or just lost their way.
I read the book 3 times. It isn't so much about Heaven, as it is about a pastor in spiritual crisis.
I am a pastor, and I clearly see a man who needed confirmation for his beliefs. READ IT AGAIN, and you will see one confirmination after another of Pastor Brupo's dogma and doctrine. The boy did not know what the word "throne" meant, but he clearly remembered Gabriel sitting beside God, cause the boy said "That's where Gabriel is, He's really nice"
The sister who was miscarried @ 2 months knew her brother by sight, ran up and hugged him and talked of "can't wait so see mom & dad"
but great grandpop, who lived 61 years, wasn't sure and had to ask "is Todd your dad?"
e-mail me @ ken@ozarkmountains.com and I will give over 20 quotes from the book that prove my point.
thanx, and God bless..
As a pastor, I read the book 3 times. It isn't so much about a little boy going to heaven, as it is about a pastor in spiritual crisis.
The boy doesn't know the word "throne", but he recognizes Gabriel and says "He's really nice"
Must of had a great 1 on 1 with ole Gabe himself. When his sister, miscarried @ 2 months, comes up, hugs him and tells him she can't wait to see mom and dad, SHE KNEW HIM BY SIGHT. But when great grandpop , who lived to age 61, sees him, he isn't sure who this little boy is , so he has to ask him "Is Todd your dad?"
THIS IS TO PROVE THAT ABORRION IS MURDER, EVERY UNBORN FETUS IS A CHILD IN HEAVEN, AND 3 AT THE THRONE REAFIRM HIS BELIEF IN THE TRINITY. I SHARE THIS BELIEF, I JUST DON'T NEED A 4 YEAR OLD TO TELL ME THAT WHAT I BELIEVE IS DONTRINALLY TRUE. The book is filled with accounts that speak to the Pastor father's need of reasurence. Feel free to e-mail me if you would like another 12 or 15 points where the book just cannot pass the smell test OF A CHRISTIAN VIEW OF HEAVEN. GOD BLESS
Ken@ozarkmountains.com
I thank God for this little boy and for this book. I lost my son 3 yrs ago, my only child, he was 50 yrs old.He knew the Lord. I've had so many questions about heaven and about meeting my loved ones. This book answered all my questions and now I know for sure that I'll see my son and not only that, but also that he will reognize me as his mom. I thank Jesus for the Burpo family.
I actually bought this book sometime ago...but had become side tracked in this crazy world of life we live in. I had placed the book in my closet “telling myself I’ll start it tomorrow..”, but of course tomorrow never seemed to calm down enough for a single mother of a 5 yr old little girl, working 50+ hours per week as a medic at a 911 EMS (Emergency Medical Service), and also attends school as well!
In the past month or so I have received random religious pamphlets, the first was a flyer placed in my door…the next a heavy envelope that said something about the package containing a message that was intended for “someone” but if you weren’t that person to still please open and read whatever it was they had put in it…to be honest I tossed it on my table and never opened it.
However, as I was leaving the house Thursday morning to take my daughter to the Doctor I noticed the little yellow book and tossed it in my purse along with all the other “necessities”, thinking this way I see it more often and maybe it will actually get read. While in the waiting room, bored of course, I reached into my purse and began to read. Although I didn’t get far the first day, that evening as I packed my overnight bag for a 24 hour shift I again placed it in my bag.
The next day as I sat around the station, I decided “no time better than the present, went into my room and read…it took about four hours total with a few breaks in between for me to finish. The book had consumed me, much like any other good book that I’ve read I.E. the Harry Potter series…however this time it was a little different. My mind reeled and tears came to my eyes as I read the story for both gut retching and joyful moments alike.
This book is truly inspiring, it tells a simple story of fact and truth…as I have described as: short, sweet and humbling. I thank the GOD for sacrificing this little boy and allowing him to recount his experiences and I also thank the Burpos’ for having the courage to share this story with the world…and allowing us into very intimate details pertaining to their lives.
For anyone who doubts this book…I will tell you from a HUMAN stand point that no one wants to show or tell the world about his or her flaws especially a “man of God”. The Lord calls certain people to be teachers of the word and as teachers these chosen people are held to a higher standard…they know it and we know it. To me the most humbling part of this book is the father’s narrative and the trials and mental tribulations he had encountered, but most of all his brutally honest conversations with God. Yes this book reveals many things about heaven as seen by a small boy that correlates with Gods’ written word as well as a few extras that are truly remarkable. But it’s also about a modern day family’s’ struggle to deal with all the things life has thrown their way, and how their prayers and faithfulness had been answered even when they had been “angry” with God.
I truly believe that God sent those tiny mental reminders, a flyer here a pamphlet there, so that he could speak to me through this book…which he did. I encourage you to read this book if you have not had the pleasure.
If you get nothing more from this book but curiosity, God has done his work and planted a seed…with the help of a most unexpected teacher, a 4 year old boy named Colton.
I am a Cristian and I believe in your story, its very beautiful, and I'm going to buy a copy of the book..Thanks
Free Bible study on the book HEAVEN IS FOR REAL
The book, HEAVEN IS FOR REAL was a fascinating read for me. For many it has given them hope for eternal life.
To me, this is a far too important a subject to put my hope in a little boy’s experience. I wanted to see what
God had to say so I went to the Bible. I have written a Bible study about heaven.
I would be delighted to send you a free copy. Email me at heaven.study@yahoo.com and I will email you a copy.
Trish Pickard
Free Bible study on the book HEAVEN IS FOR REAL
The book, HEAVEN IS FOR REAL was a fascinating read for me. For many it has given them hope for eternal life.
To me, this is a far too important a subject to put my hope in a little boy’s experience. I wanted to see what
God had to say so I went to the Bible. I have written a Bible study about heaven.
I would be delighted to send you a free copy. Email me at heaven.study@yahoo.com and I will email you a copy.
Trish Pickard
First, I am a believer. So, I am not in the least put off by a young boy's "experience" with Heaven. What I regret is that this experience was obviously the cumulative effect of Sunday School teachings, parental conversations, and a child's observations over time. (It took months, if not years, for the full story to be revealed by the boy.) This is Heaven the way a child would see it. One in which Jesus looks like the paintings of him, you get to see all your dead relatives, and the cast from the Bible stops by for a curtain call. It trivializes what is likely a Heaven so grand and complex that the human mind cannot comprehend it. It's not a bad story, but it plays into non-believers' idea of believers: that we are simple-minded, non-questioning children.
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