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987 reviews for:
Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Todd Burpo
3.66 AVERAGE
987 reviews for:
Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Todd Burpo
3.66 AVERAGE
I loved this book! It was so touching and adorable about this strong little boy who has never read the Bible and has only learned about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit through Sunday School. One of my philosophies, is children and animals are very innocent so they will ALWAYS point out the truth and I believe when this child, Colton, proclaimed that God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Heaven and the whole enchilada is truly real by what he's seen and heard up in Heaven. Colton even remembered how Jesus looked like that he was able to point at a picture that someone painted and say, "That's Jesus true face." This book also emphasizes on childlike humility, which is what God wants us to have according to Jesus in Matthew 18:1-5, 'At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." I recommend this book to anyone who wants more proof that what the Bible says is true.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. When I lost my son last year, I got a lot of the "he's in heaven now, and you'll be with him again some day" comments. And I wanted to believe, I really did.. But I've always had a problem with faith. It would be so much easier for me to accept losing him, if I could truly have faith in him being safe and happy in a better place. But it's a hard thing to believe... Try though I might.
Several people in a Compassionate Friends support meeting recommended this book to me, and said it might help me find some faith.. Might make it a little easier for me really believe that my son is in a better place. So I read it.. And I'm not sure what I feel.
First of all, I'm not quite sure that this is a book that a parent who lost a young child should read. It tells the story of a family that almost loses a young child, and that alone triggered a lot of emotions. Longing for my son.. Sadness at his loss.. And jealousy. Because this family almost lost a son, while I did lose my son.
There's a line near the end, that really upset me...
Speaking of Colton’s experience in heaven, people have said to us, “Your family is so blessed!” In the sense that we’ve had a glimpse through the veil that separates earth from eternity, they’re right. But I also think, Blessed? We watched our son almost die.
I read this and I think... Yes, you are blessed. You watched your son almost die. But you have him with you now, he's growing up and is healthy and happy. You are blessed beyond belief.
While it did give me a lot to ponder.. It also did wonders for the guilt I feel because of my loss and the circumstances surrounding it. And I mean that in a not so good way.. It goes on and on about how they prayed and prayed, and God granted them their wish, God let them keep their son. I didn't pray, because I had no faith, I didn't believe, or at the least I didn't care. I saw no need to, I didn't know he could be taken from me. Is my son gone because of my lack of prayer? Because of my lack of belief? Because I didn't appreciate his mortality? If I had prayed the right prayer, could I have saved him? Was I not a good enough person to save him? I know these questions are silly in a way. Scratch that, I know they are silly in every way. But reading this story brought the questions repeatedly into my mind, it wasn't something I could help.
And the questions, of course, don't stop there.. Beyond those questions, were the questions that those questions inevitably led to. If the answer to those questions is yes... And it's my fault because I lacked faith.. The question isn't "Why me?" it's "Why my son?" Why did he have to be punished for my wrongs and for my lack of faith? But like I said... These sort of thoughts aren't new to me. These are questions I deal with every day, and eventually hope to work through. Reading this story just amplified them for a short period of time.
For that reason, I definitely wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who has lost a young child and is still dealing with the grief and guilt associated with that loss. Beyond that.. I need time to think about this story, to process it, discuss it, research it. I want to believe.. I want to make the right choices so I can be with my son again one day, if that's a possibility. But to make the right choices, and to believe.. I have to do it right. I have to find real faith, not conditional faith (faith based on the condition that I'll get to be with my son). It's not something that can happen over night.. But I hope one day to find peace.
With that, I'll end this review. It's been a revealing one, and I'm hesitant to post it. But... It's a part of who I am now. I have to embrace it or hide it.. And I won't hide Lucas.
Several people in a Compassionate Friends support meeting recommended this book to me, and said it might help me find some faith.. Might make it a little easier for me really believe that my son is in a better place. So I read it.. And I'm not sure what I feel.
First of all, I'm not quite sure that this is a book that a parent who lost a young child should read. It tells the story of a family that almost loses a young child, and that alone triggered a lot of emotions. Longing for my son.. Sadness at his loss.. And jealousy. Because this family almost lost a son, while I did lose my son.
There's a line near the end, that really upset me...
Speaking of Colton’s experience in heaven, people have said to us, “Your family is so blessed!” In the sense that we’ve had a glimpse through the veil that separates earth from eternity, they’re right. But I also think, Blessed? We watched our son almost die.
I read this and I think... Yes, you are blessed. You watched your son almost die. But you have him with you now, he's growing up and is healthy and happy. You are blessed beyond belief.
While it did give me a lot to ponder.. It also did wonders for the guilt I feel because of my loss and the circumstances surrounding it. And I mean that in a not so good way.. It goes on and on about how they prayed and prayed, and God granted them their wish, God let them keep their son. I didn't pray, because I had no faith, I didn't believe, or at the least I didn't care. I saw no need to, I didn't know he could be taken from me. Is my son gone because of my lack of prayer? Because of my lack of belief? Because I didn't appreciate his mortality? If I had prayed the right prayer, could I have saved him? Was I not a good enough person to save him? I know these questions are silly in a way. Scratch that, I know they are silly in every way. But reading this story brought the questions repeatedly into my mind, it wasn't something I could help.
And the questions, of course, don't stop there.. Beyond those questions, were the questions that those questions inevitably led to. If the answer to those questions is yes... And it's my fault because I lacked faith.. The question isn't "Why me?" it's "Why my son?" Why did he have to be punished for my wrongs and for my lack of faith? But like I said... These sort of thoughts aren't new to me. These are questions I deal with every day, and eventually hope to work through. Reading this story just amplified them for a short period of time.
For that reason, I definitely wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who has lost a young child and is still dealing with the grief and guilt associated with that loss. Beyond that.. I need time to think about this story, to process it, discuss it, research it. I want to believe.. I want to make the right choices so I can be with my son again one day, if that's a possibility. But to make the right choices, and to believe.. I have to do it right. I have to find real faith, not conditional faith (faith based on the condition that I'll get to be with my son). It's not something that can happen over night.. But I hope one day to find peace.
With that, I'll end this review. It's been a revealing one, and I'm hesitant to post it. But... It's a part of who I am now. I have to embrace it or hide it.. And I won't hide Lucas.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
What a moving story. I feel like we are getting a new glimpse at what heaven is. This story is encouraging and hopeful. Easing many concerns and questions a person may have about the after life. I enjoyed this book very much and recommend to anyone who is looking for a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. It makes the end seem more realistic.
I was really excited to read this book when it came out. I'm not a believer, but I still thought it would be a sweet, uplifting story that I would enjoy. The intro to this audiobook should have been my reality check. It included an interview with the author, in which the interviewer said something along the lines of, "how can anyone read this and not become a believer?" Just the kind of thing to set my teeth on edge.
Aside of the narrator's "child" voice becoming increasingly irritating over time, I lost count of the number of times I shook my head reading this book - like parents taking a four-year-old to the funeral of someone he didn't even know. I don't know if this is a common practice for families headed by a pastor, but it kind of disturbed me.
By the end of the book, I also had to question how much the aging Colton actually remembered from his experience, and how much he imagined and embellished over the course of time - not to mislead anyone, but just because that's what kids do.
This book hasn't made me any more of a believer than before I read it, but I was finally uplifted by the last page when Colton told the family's editor (publisher?) that the one thing he wanted people to know from his experience was that Heaven is for real. It just gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
Aside of the narrator's "child" voice becoming increasingly irritating over time, I lost count of the number of times I shook my head reading this book - like parents taking a four-year-old to the funeral of someone he didn't even know. I don't know if this is a common practice for families headed by a pastor, but it kind of disturbed me.
By the end of the book, I also had to question how much the aging Colton actually remembered from his experience, and how much he imagined and embellished over the course of time - not to mislead anyone, but just because that's what kids do.
This book hasn't made me any more of a believer than before I read it, but I was finally uplifted by the last page when Colton told the family's editor (publisher?) that the one thing he wanted people to know from his experience was that Heaven is for real. It just gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
First, a little background. I grew up with Christian parents who took me to Assemblies of God church my whole childhood. Went to a Christian college (mostly Wesleyan actually, although I never knew what that meant) where I struggled with some of the faith vs fact struggles a lot of religious people probably struggle with. I proposed in my senior paper that I felt that I became a Postmodern Christian--one with faith in God, Jesus, Heaven, Hell, etc. but who didn't believe that it was the ONLY truth.
My fiancée grew up Catholic for only a few years. By Middle School, her family stopped going to church and she's pretty much an agnostic. She believes in a sort of afterlife (one of her favorite shows is Long Island Medium) but she has difficulty with the specifics (e.g. God, Jesus, Heaven, Hell). However, she loves me and comes to church with me every Sunday.
Several months ago, our pastor mentioned a book about a little boy's near death experience, titled Heaven Is For Real and plugged a Greg Kinnear movie that was coming out soon. My fiancée became interested and bought this on Kindle and read it in a few days/weeks.
We saw the movie month's ago, but I was busy reading a few other books which I just finished over the July 4 holiday. Decided to start reading this on the long drive home.
Four days later, and I'm done! It's written very conversationally; it's super easy to read with short chapters. It's better than the film (which cast young Colton horribly and was written very heavy-handedly) but still I had trouble with some of the story.
It's not my place to question whether this is true nonfiction (or as Neil Degrasse-Tyson wants to call it, faction) or a man exploiting his child in order to get a book & movie deal (wouldn't be the first time "Christians" were found deceiving people for money, sadly) but when reading nonfiction (which is where I'm placing it) the only way to judge the book is how well it's written, how easy it is to read, and how well it tells the story.
Like reviewing a documentary, does the media portray a series of events in a skilled way, an interesting way, and does it take an unbiased approach to the subject?
For the first two criteria, I think Burpo and Vincent (cowriter of Going Rogue?!?) do a pretty decent job. I'm always a fan of bite-sized chapters so I can easily put it down if I need to but also have the chance to read "just one more" before doing so...
With the last criterion, it feels too "golly gee" simple at times. Am I surprised that a pastor's son may have images of Jesus dressed in white & purple with a golden crown? Definitely not as much as Burpo seemed! Sure he wasn't even four years old but he was a pastor's kid! I'm sure there may have been a chance he had heard/seen that imagery before.
But the Akiane Kramarik piece of the story and Colton's declaration (after being shown dozens, if not hundreds of portraits of Jesus) that, "that one's right" does amaze me. Is her painting the actual image of Jesus?! Or is this just one image God shared with the two children? Would he look like Vishnu to a Hindu version of Colton?
I still wonder if there's any chance my Postmodern Christianity holds any water. I worry I may be turning my back on everything my parents taught me. The book gave me some comfort but also gave me some trepidation... In the end, I'm glad I read it but I realize all the more how much I'm struggling right now. I guess that's a good result of the book.... Right?
My fiancée grew up Catholic for only a few years. By Middle School, her family stopped going to church and she's pretty much an agnostic. She believes in a sort of afterlife (one of her favorite shows is Long Island Medium) but she has difficulty with the specifics (e.g. God, Jesus, Heaven, Hell). However, she loves me and comes to church with me every Sunday.
Several months ago, our pastor mentioned a book about a little boy's near death experience, titled Heaven Is For Real and plugged a Greg Kinnear movie that was coming out soon. My fiancée became interested and bought this on Kindle and read it in a few days/weeks.
We saw the movie month's ago, but I was busy reading a few other books which I just finished over the July 4 holiday. Decided to start reading this on the long drive home.
Four days later, and I'm done! It's written very conversationally; it's super easy to read with short chapters. It's better than the film (which cast young Colton horribly and was written very heavy-handedly) but still I had trouble with some of the story.
It's not my place to question whether this is true nonfiction (or as Neil Degrasse-Tyson wants to call it, faction) or a man exploiting his child in order to get a book & movie deal (wouldn't be the first time "Christians" were found deceiving people for money, sadly) but when reading nonfiction (which is where I'm placing it) the only way to judge the book is how well it's written, how easy it is to read, and how well it tells the story.
Like reviewing a documentary, does the media portray a series of events in a skilled way, an interesting way, and does it take an unbiased approach to the subject?
For the first two criteria, I think Burpo and Vincent (cowriter of Going Rogue?!?) do a pretty decent job. I'm always a fan of bite-sized chapters so I can easily put it down if I need to but also have the chance to read "just one more" before doing so...
With the last criterion, it feels too "golly gee" simple at times. Am I surprised that a pastor's son may have images of Jesus dressed in white & purple with a golden crown? Definitely not as much as Burpo seemed! Sure he wasn't even four years old but he was a pastor's kid! I'm sure there may have been a chance he had heard/seen that imagery before.
But the Akiane Kramarik piece of the story and Colton's declaration (after being shown dozens, if not hundreds of portraits of Jesus) that, "that one's right" does amaze me. Is her painting the actual image of Jesus?! Or is this just one image God shared with the two children? Would he look like Vishnu to a Hindu version of Colton?
I still wonder if there's any chance my Postmodern Christianity holds any water. I worry I may be turning my back on everything my parents taught me. The book gave me some comfort but also gave me some trepidation... In the end, I'm glad I read it but I realize all the more how much I'm struggling right now. I guess that's a good result of the book.... Right?
Sometimes you want to try something 'different' - expand your horizons. I am now reminded why its good to stick to what you know. A few hours wasted on this tripe.
This is a fast read. I appreciated walking through Colton's journey as a parent and as a person finding her own path.