Sign in with FacebookNatashaF Farquhar's Reviews > Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
by Todd Burpo, Lynn Vincent
by Todd Burpo, Lynn Vincent
I am already on the 11th chapter -
I am just get chills when I read this book. Last night, I spent time reading comments from Goodreads. I was shocked of all the one stars and negative comments. These are the topics that kept coming up. I just have to vent about it...
1.)WHY DID THE PARENTS WAIT SO LONG? - That the parents waited to long to take him to the doctor.Well, they did take him to the doctor. The doctor told them no thing was wrong expect a stomach virus. This can reoccur plus when the sister got sick it just made sense.
- Being a parent - I put ( or did ) trust into the doctors. I know how it is to feel helpless and not knowing what is 100% correct with a sick kid. I feel they did what they thought was right. It can be confusing when it comes to sick kids.
2.)THE BOY GREW UP WITH A DAD AS PASTOR - The boy knew what to say because his dad is a Pastor and he grew up with all the imagery and around Christians. The way it comes across to me is .. HE IS 3 YRS OLD at the time this happen. It was so branded in his mind - he still remembers till this day! and How can they explain how he saw his dad crying in the room and mom praying on the phone?
I am sorry - if my 3/4 year old son told me this in such conviction - I would believe him 100%. I feel this boy is innocent - he did not make up stories just because he knows who Jesus is and Heaven. He went into detail about what Jesus was wearing and etc. in so much detail - that the dad could actually pull out Bible Scriptures relating to it.
3.) PROPAGANDA Comments were left also about how the book was too preachy and how he makes it come across that the only way to Heaven is through knowing Jesus. Well- my opinion - there is nothing wrong with TOO PREACHY. This book was written, I believe, as a witness tool. This may have happened to this boy, so his dad could write a book. God wants everyone saved - I think the Pastors job is DONE if only ONE person gets saved. JUST ONE!
As for the only way to Heaven - I am not going to get into debate about theology. But I will say this - this book goes by the Bible - and YES, the only way to Heaven is through the relationship of Jesus. Period.
4. MAKE BELIEVE I see some people just slamming this book without reading it. These "people" are leaving remarks about how we shouldn't believe there is a man sitting on the clouds. I know some people just like to spread their opinion but don't slam it just because it is about Heaven or Jesus or God.
I am continuing to read this book - I should finish by the end of the week. I am so full of joy and I can't wait to go to HEAVEN.
---------
UPDATE
I just finished this book late last night -- All I can say is I can't wait to go to Heaven to meet Jesus.
I am just get chills when I read this book. Last night, I spent time reading comments from Goodreads. I was shocked of all the one stars and negative comments. These are the topics that kept coming up. I just have to vent about it...
1.)WHY DID THE PARENTS WAIT SO LONG? - That the parents waited to long to take him to the doctor.Well, they did take him to the doctor. The doctor told them no thing was wrong expect a stomach virus. This can reoccur plus when the sister got sick it just made sense.
- Being a parent - I put ( or did ) trust into the doctors. I know how it is to feel helpless and not knowing what is 100% correct with a sick kid. I feel they did what they thought was right. It can be confusing when it comes to sick kids.
2.)THE BOY GREW UP WITH A DAD AS PASTOR - The boy knew what to say because his dad is a Pastor and he grew up with all the imagery and around Christians. The way it comes across to me is .. HE IS 3 YRS OLD at the time this happen. It was so branded in his mind - he still remembers till this day! and How can they explain how he saw his dad crying in the room and mom praying on the phone?
I am sorry - if my 3/4 year old son told me this in such conviction - I would believe him 100%. I feel this boy is innocent - he did not make up stories just because he knows who Jesus is and Heaven. He went into detail about what Jesus was wearing and etc. in so much detail - that the dad could actually pull out Bible Scriptures relating to it.
3.) PROPAGANDA Comments were left also about how the book was too preachy and how he makes it come across that the only way to Heaven is through knowing Jesus. Well- my opinion - there is nothing wrong with TOO PREACHY. This book was written, I believe, as a witness tool. This may have happened to this boy, so his dad could write a book. God wants everyone saved - I think the Pastors job is DONE if only ONE person gets saved. JUST ONE!
As for the only way to Heaven - I am not going to get into debate about theology. But I will say this - this book goes by the Bible - and YES, the only way to Heaven is through the relationship of Jesus. Period.
4. MAKE BELIEVE I see some people just slamming this book without reading it. These "people" are leaving remarks about how we shouldn't believe there is a man sitting on the clouds. I know some people just like to spread their opinion but don't slam it just because it is about Heaven or Jesus or God.
I am continuing to read this book - I should finish by the end of the week. I am so full of joy and I can't wait to go to HEAVEN.
---------
UPDATE
I just finished this book late last night -- All I can say is I can't wait to go to Heaven to meet Jesus.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read Heaven is for Real.
sign in »
Comments (showing 1-22 of 22) (22 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Ruth
(new)
Apr 16, 2011 05:03pm
YOu make very good points & make me want to read this book.
reply
|
flag
*
you nailed it!!!! I think this book just scares some people because it makes them look in the mirror.
Thank you for this excellent review! I just finished this book and agree with everything you have written! Well said!
Of course daddy made it up. And since fools like you keep buying the book, he's making lots of money off of you. And, if you can't wait to go to heaven, why don't you hasten the process and just kill yourself? One less moron to reproduce.
Amen sister! :)I couldn't have written a better review myself. I agree with everything you've said!Kathy, why so much anger towards people? Telling someone that they should speed up the process and kill themselves is very uncalled for. I seriously cannot even fathom why you would want to say this to someone you don't even know. You don't know what their situation is,or what your comment might make them do. Please think before you speak, or when speaking at least be respectful, even if you don't agree. I'll be praying for you, since I can tell you need it. God loves you still.
I love Jesus too. However, I have a problem with the fundamentalist idea that everyone needs to know Jesus to go to heaven. Case in point. Do you know all of those little kids and crying mothers sent to the gas chambers by the nazis in WWII? Are you telling me, that upon their deaths, God...our God sent them to fire and brimstone after they were already ripped from their homes, tortured, and killed for being Jewish? That is pretty darn arrogant and black/white thinking. I choose to give God the benefit of the doubt that there are some gray areas way beyond our capacity. Hitler knew Jesus too. Ponder that at night sweetie.
BTW- Kathy. What you just said is illegal harassment in some states. Check yourself. You could be charged if this girl ever did anything to herself and a book review is not worth that!
Natasha, loved your review! I too am shocked by the negativity and closed mindness of some reviewers.
I like your review to the max but please don't take your UPDATE seriously, are you planning to suicide? Haha.
I don't think disliking the book necessarily makes a person closed minded (that may not have been what you were implying). I do think though that some of the reviews sounded pretty vindictive. If this book meant something to you, good. I had hoped to find it meaningful, but instead I doubted it sincerely. I have specific issues with some of the recounted anecdotes. I don't think that too many of the people who have written negative reviews are 'scared to look in the mirror' as much as they are appalled by what they think is unquestioning, fundamentalist proselytism at best, and a lie at worst. Imagine how difficult it would be to take seriously a book so reliant upon Christian imagery when you have no previous exposure to it.
I am looking forward to reading this book especially after reading these reviews, and I agree with what you said. I want to share a story of my own with you. When my son was about 3 years old, he told me he knew his Great Grandma. There was no way, she died several years before his dad and I married and I had only met her once. He said he met her in Heaven before he was born and he described her to me. Now we never spoke in our home about her nor did anyone have any pictures. To this day I can't shake that and its been over 30 years ago. So I don't take what little ones say lightly, especially when it comes to God and Heaven. Praise the Lord.
The Bible says that the righteous will possess the earth and shall reside forever upon it. The Lord's prayer says "your kingdom come, your will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven..." So since we don't go to heaven when we die, this book is bunk. It just shows how parents can brainwash their children. The heaven story is about as believable as the Santa or Easter Bunny lie people tell their kids. They must think their kids are morons to believe that stuff.
If heaven is so great, why didn't god just leave us all there - and why are people so sad when people die and say "god took them" - this is pure fantasy.
I know most people will disagree with this review (and that's totally fine) but I believe in this book, and I think if you believe strongly in the religion then you have faith that this story is true. Yes, his father is a pastor and he may have picked up a few of these ideas hearing him preach. But other things, like his dead sister, how could he know that? Also, how could the father lie in this book? He's a preacher, and lying is a sin. I'm pretty sure he'd be a bit more honest than most people, therefore he's not lying throughout the book. I have a lot of faith that this story is true and always will.:) thanks!!
Sarah said: "Also, how could the father lie in this book? He's a preacher, and lying is a sin."Seriously?? HAAHAHAHA! A preacher who lies and sins -how could that be? Think - Falwell, Bakker, Roberts, (all caught with prostitutes) pedophile priests, etc, etc ad nauseum.
shes not saying pastors are sinless-no one is without sin but jesus- but he probably is better behaved than most. yes, some awfull priests do take part in those actions, but those are definatly not the majority. besides think about this-- if ordinary men were caught having prostitutes, would it be a big deal? nooooo. but if a priest does it its THE MOST HORRID THING EVER! And those are horrible things, i am in no way approving them but no one should ever be a hypocrite.priest or otherwise. thank you
