Heaven Is For Real

Okay, before I start telling you about this AMAZING book, I would like to say that whether or not you read a lot or don't read ever... I rarely ever read and this book had me up until 3 A.M. under a light engaged in the story. Now that I got that out of the way I can tell you what this book is about.

Heaven Is For Real starts out introducing the dad, Todd Burpo; a pastor for Wesleyan church in Imperial, Nebraska. He has been going through a handful of bad luck with injuries resulting in a financial setback and a leave of absence in his job. He is on the right path to recovery when what began as a fun family road trip to the Butterfly Pavilion in Denver ended in a nightmare for Todd Burpo and his wife, Sonja. Later that evening after dining out with other church friends, when two children, Cassie and Colton started throwing up. They thought it was something they ate and would pass, while that may of looked true for Cassie, it wasn't for Colton. He continuously kept throwing up every few hours. They ended their trip short and rushed him back home to Imperial hospital where he stayed for weeks running test after test. Both of Colton's parents asked if it could be his appendix, but the Doctor immediately rejected that it could possibly be that. They couldn't seem to find a cure for what was wrong with him. Some days Colton would be fine and on his way to recovery and then hours later he would get sick again. It was all just a continuous cycle. Todd, being a Pastor has traveled to several hospitals to send a good-bye prayer to many of the ill. One day he walked in and was shocked to see the shadow of death cross over his 4 year old son's body. He became angry with the doctors and checked out Colton and brought him to another medical center. Here they told him he must have a emergency surgery for a busted appendix. His parents were shocked that this whole time their son was slowly slipping away, it was the one thing the other doctor swore that it wouldn't be. Mr. Burpo just about lost it, “Where are you God? Is this how you treat your pastors? Is it worth it to even serve you?” (Heaven pg. 94) he shouted. After his surgery, Colton made a remarkable recovery and was released to go home. Four months had passed and everything seemed to be going back to normal when they passed by the hospital and his father jokingly asked would you like to visit the hospital and Colton replied, "You know Dad, the angels sang to me while I was there." His father was shocked by his son's answer and began asking him more. They didn't know whether Sunday school was doing a good job of teaching their son about Heaven or what was going on, so they ignored his comment. Months later he continued making more comments about heaven like:

• He sat in Jesus’ lap
• He met his sister who died in his mother’s womb (whom his parents had never told him about)
• He saw John the Baptist
• There is a coming battle with Satan (he is a futurist!)
• There are thousands of colors we have never seen
• He met his great granddad (who told him things about his father that his father had never told him)
• He saw Jesus’ “marks” on his hands and feet
• All the people had wings of various sizes (including Colton) and flew around (except Jesus who moved up and down as if on an escalator)
• Jesus had the most beautiful eyes, a beard, a white gown, a purple sash, and a crown
• All the people had a light above their head (halo, I think)
• Jesus sits on a throne at the right hand of God and Gabriel is on the left
• He sat by God the Holy Spirit (who he could not describe) and explained to his dad that God is a Trinity
• It never gets dark in heaven because God the Father and God the Son are the lights
• There were all kinds of animals everywhere
• Nobody is old in heaven and no one wears glasses
• Jesus “shoots” power down from heaven to his father while he is preaching
• The gates to heaven were made of gold and pearls
• He was actually only there for three minutes (timelessness in heaven?)

These are all some of the bizarre things today that we have no clue whether or not are true (In my opinion I believe every bit of this is true). This book is based on a true story and Colton Burpo and his family were on T.V. recently. This book really hit me hard because I all the time am so curious about the reality of Heaven and no one can actually know the truth until you go there one day. I strongly advise reading this book because it gave me chills the whole time he described Heaven.