"Heaven Is For Real" - My Review

I was given a copy of this book by a good friend of ours. She said she read it in a day. I had also heard from my mother and some others that it was worth a read. On the front, it said it has sold over 2 million copies, so many people are reading it as well. Here's my review...

"Heaven Is For Real" by Todd Burpo is the story of his oldest son, Colton. When Colton was four, his appendix burst and wasn't diagnosed for 5 days. Once they finally figured it out, Colton was full of the poisons and nearly died. Through lots of prayers and the diligent work of the medical staff, Colton came through and was fine. What the book is about, though, is what Colton began to share with his father after he came home. Colton shared with his family that he was in heaven for a while during the course of his surgery to "clean out" his insides. He was never offically dead, but shared many details of what he saw and heard that seem to be far beyond the grasp of his 4 year old mind. Todd began to write down the accounts that Colton would give, and went back to check them against scripture. By all accounts, the stories seemed to be real, and Colton's story has touched many people over the years since it happened.

My take? I really enjoyed reading the book...it took me about an hour and a half on the way home from clinic in Indy yesterday. It's a short book, and an easy read. Parts of the book really moved me, both as a Christian, but even more so as a parent. Todd's account of the helplessness he felt as his boy was close to death really got to me....and his wonder at Colton's revelations were touching as well. It's well done, and worth a read, in my opinion.

Now, to get to the question I'm sure everyone who's read this is asking: Did Colton really go to heaven and see all this? Did he not, and get a vision of it? Or did Dad and others ask him leading questions and either teach him the answers, or maybe he drew from what he learned in church and just being around his dad, a pastor of a small church? I'm sure it's possible...and people will believe what they want to, regardless of what the book lays out. For me, I choose to believe it. I do believe that God still uses people today just like He did back when Christ walked the earth. I believe that children can often be the ones to be the vessels, because they aren't jaded and worn as we adults are. I've seen God work in miraculous ways, not just in my own life, but in the lives of others I know. Sure, it would be easy to doubt what Todd writes...just as easy as it is to doubt the many miracles and signs Jesus did in His time on earth, and the ones we've seen with our own eyes. Who am I to say Colton's stories are true or not? I choose to believe they are...and in doing so, it reinforces my hope and faith that heaven is an amazing place...and I look forward to seeing it for myself someday.

Final word: Pick up a copy of this book, or you can borrow mine. Read it for yourself, and make your own decision....just remember, people have been doubting God since the world began...and He just keeps showing up.