NowTHINK!AboutIt

Avoiding Hackneyed...Making Sense

Heaven Now Open To All

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“Jesus Said” Is Not Always
An Argument

Colton Burpo and his book, Heaven is for Real, have caused a huge public stir and responses have been both positive and negative.

Some atheist and agnostic types – particularly of the academic kind – have attacked not just Colton but also those who believe his story. It hackles them that so many can be so light headed.

Others have been uncertain how to assess Colton’s testimony. They don’t question the idea of heaven or the possibility of a pre-death visit but are uncertain how to assess a report like this and, therefore, reticent on the issue.

Add to that any apparent Bible reason to question the validity of his experience and doubts abound. One verse which seems to suggest Colton’s report can’t be genuine is John 3:13. Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus and He says:

No one has ever gone (ascended) into heaven except the one who came from heaven–the Son of Man.

Wow, right from the mouth of Jesus – “No one has ever gone into heaven.” Seems like a deal killer but a closer inspection clears things up. [Read more…] about Heaven Now Open To All

“Heaven Is For Real” vs Academic Heavies

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If Heaven Isn’t Real
Why Worry About It

They may not believe Heaven is for Real but academic heavy hitters are lining up to take a swing at Colton Burpo.

Susan Jacoby, for one, suggested the American public’s infatuation with his book proves they are immature minded and this isn’t a new trend for her. In a February 2008 article she referred to the same group as “dunces.”

About Colton’s book, she quips, “only in America could a book like this be classified as nonfiction.”

I’m not sure if “immature” represents an improvement or is the reason she thinks we are dumb, but you get the feeling things would change if we would just read a few books on Reason – starting with her’s, of course. She’s written several and you could almost map the road to reprobation in the titles:

  • Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism – 2004.
  • The Age of American Unreason – 2008.

Not that that matters to her. She doesn’t believe and is proud to say so.

The real issue is, Colton’s book has sold over a million copies – and counting – and is breaking all the records at Thomas Nelson publishers. And, as a non materialistic atheist, who apparently doesn’t appreciate people suggesting she or her kind writes books for money, she doesn’t hesitate to suggest the Burpo’s did just that, accusingly, as if there is something wrong with making money.

Her cynicism doesn’t slur it gushes arterially.

I will say that it’s good she doesn’t write for profit because her books don’t sell that well. [Read more…] about “Heaven Is For Real” vs Academic Heavies

Review: “Heaven Is For Real” by Todd Burop

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Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo

Heaven is for Real is a bio of a “near death” experience (NDE) but without all the “weird” and “sketchy” images that usually accompany such stories.

My review takes a positive approach. I believe Colton’s experience was genuine and his report is as accurate as any retelling of an event can be. And since heaven is not only real but very close we shouldn’t be surprised when it bleeds through occasionally.

The story is different in that it doesn’t focus on “long tunnels with lights at the end” or the sensation of watching medical personnel feverishly operate from a hovering out-of-body perspective. It is a matter of fact story shared from the perspective of an almost four-year-old child who had no preconceived ideas beforehand and explains everything casually. To him it wasn’t strange.

Colton Burpo, just before his fourth birthday, has a ruptured appendix that is misdiagnosed for several days. Because the event takes place in rural Nebraska, medical personnel and facilities are few and far between. The experience involved miles of travel between hospitals and desperate dependence on professionals who were not hopeful but gave it their best shot. His death was so expected his recovery was dumbfounding.

But recovery, though miraculous, is not the story. God’s answering many prayers in a hopeless situation is also not the story. Heaven is. [Read more…] about Review: “Heaven Is For Real” by Todd Burop