Throwback Thursday: A Post From The Past

Today's post from the past is a book review in honour of World Book Day.  I chose this review in light of the recent retraction from Alex Malarkey about his trip to Heaven, and because Colton's story was made into a film last year. This post was initially written on 14/12/2011 

Colton Burpo is not quite four, when he has an emergency appendectomy.  In the months that follow, he starts to tell his parents about how while he was being operated on he was in Heaven with Jesus, and the Angels sang to him.

If you are a non-believer you could probably say this is a clever book of fiction by a Pastor with Biblical knowledge.

I am a Christian and I believe Heaven is for real, but I don't know why I find it hard to accept that Jesus would let a child visit Him in Heaven and tell us of his experiences.  It's not that I disbelieved Colton's story, I just suppose it's so supernatural it's hard to get your head around - imagine how his parents coped as he casually told them about meeting his mis-carried sister!

The story naturally unravels without coming across as overly sentimental or cheesy.

Colton's Pastor dad backs up his accounts with scripture references, and the end of book poses questions to make you think further beyond what you have read.

Heaven is for real? Yes it is. 

Did Colton Burpo visit Heaven? Why not?

Heaven Is For Real

Colton Burpo is not quite four, when he has an emergency appendectomy.  In the months that follow, he starts to tell his parents about how while he was being operated on he was in Heaven with Jesus, and the Angels sang to him.

If you are a non-believer you could probably say this is a clever book of fiction by a Pastor with Biblical knowledge.

I am a Christian and I believe Heaven is for real, but I don't know why I find it hard to accept that Jesus would let a child visit Him in Heaven and tell us of his experiences.  It's not that I disbelieved Colton's story, I just suppose it's so supernatural it's hard to get your head around - imagine how his parents coped as he casually told them about meeting his mis-carried sister!

The story naturally unravels without coming across as overly sentimental or cheesy.

Colton's Pastor dad backs up his accounts with scripture references, and the end of book poses questions to make you think further beyond what you have read.

Heaven is for real? Yes it is. 

Did Colton Burpo visit Heaven? Why not?

Seriously Funny Adrian Plass & Jeff Lucas

Written communications between two friends, who are sometimes funny, sometimes grumpy, sometimes controversial, but always endearing.  Adrian and Jeff are on a wavelength probably similar to a lot of us, but they have had the guts to put their opinions in print.

I am essentially a nosey person, so to have the opportunity to read someones 'private correspondence' really appealed to me! I also like the reality of the situations of which they write, their anecdotes of book signings and tour interpreters are hilarious!

Their faithful thread is not lost in the humour though, with their thoughts of Jesus' reaction and the way a Christian might be used by the Holy Spirit in mundane situations is both touching and thought provoking.

If you are offended by the humour or some of the language in this book, you may need to re-address your outlook on what it means to be a 'normal, run of the mill, fun-loving, Jesus-serving Christian'.

p.s. Seeing them on their 'Seriously Funny' tour next month, so will probably do a little post on that!                                                                                 

Ian Morgan Cron Jesus, My Father, The CIA, And Me

If you are looking for a book that gives an exposé of the CIA, this isn’t it.  If you are looking for an honestly written autobiography that’ll have you chuckling from one page and forming a lump in your throat on the next, this is it.  Ian tells of his childhood through to college years and beyond, all of which have been impaired by the lack of a suitable father-figure.  Throughout the book he appears to cling on to a faith, sometimes by the skin of his teeth.

I love autobiographies so I was pleased that almost immediately this book provoked my emotions of not only humour but sadness.  Ian tells his story in a way that makes you forget you are reading a book, you feel you know each character personally and can imagine you are sat in the same room as Ian, smiling appreciatively but with a tear in your eye as he recounts the stories of the love shown by his best friend, the fight with his father and towards the end of the book, the treat of Ian letting you know about himself as a father.

This book is proof that we can re-write our life-script, even if it does mean you have to see a counsellor regularly!  I would recommend this book to anyone, my life has nothing in common with Ian’s, but I identified very well with it.