Posted on 03/11/2011 10:08:14 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
Just two months shy of his fourth birthday, Colton Burpo, the son of an evangelical pastor in Imperial, Neb., was rushed into emergency surgery with a burst appendix.
He woke up with an astonishing story: He had died and gone to heaven, where he met his great-grandfather; the biblical figure Samson; John the Baptist; and Jesus, who had eyes that “were just sort of a sea-blue and they seemed to sparkle,” Colton, now 11 years old, recalled.
Colton's father, Todd, has turned the boy’s experience into a 163-page book, “Heaven Is for Real,” which has become a sleeper paperback hit of the winter, dominating best-seller lists and selling hundreds of thousands of copies.
Thomas Nelson, the book’s publisher, said it had broken company sales records.
The publisher, based in Nashville, began with an initial print run of 40,000 copies.
Since the book came out in November, it has gone back to press 22 times, with more than 1.5 million copies in print.
On the New York Times best-seller list for paperback nonfiction last Sunday, “Heaven Is for Real” was NO. 1.
The book remains in the top spot this coming Sunday.
Colton told his parents that he had met his younger sister in heaven, describing her as a dark-haired girl who resembled his older sister, Cassie.
When the Burpos questioned him, he asked his mother, “You had a baby die in your tummy, didn’t you?”
While his wife had suffered a miscarriage years before, Mr. Burpo said, they had not told Colton about it.
“There’s just no way he could have known,” Mr. Burpo said.
The Burpos said that Colton painstakingly described images that he said he saw in heaven — like the bloody wounds on Jesus’ palms — that he had not been shown before.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I agree totally. We sometimes are given glimpses of Heaven for some purpose that we will learn later.
I was in Roswell , Walker AFB flying B 36 in 1956 - 1957. I have Masters degree in Social Work but am in real Estate.
I admire your faith and have for some time..
Am DEEPLY humbled and encouraged by your kind comment.
Thanks tons for your blessed gift to me tonight. Greatly appreciated.
I’m just flawed flesh.
Thankfully, redeemed by THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
PRAISE HIS NAME.
If I may ask, please, . . . What region of the world are you in now and what is your elevation?
BTW, What can you tell of the Roswell crashes?
My son’s primary imaginary friend starting at age 3 or so was “Gatoraid.” Also Totts and Beep if he needed an entire gang for his adventures. I think he just liked the way the word sounded. Thanks for sharing the Gomestas BenGracias story. It made me smile.
Thank you. If I am right; glorify God who helps me, and know that I am not nearly so pleased to point out that someone may be in error, as I am to point out that God is True.
Now consider Jesus’ point in saying, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”
Doesn’t Jesus’ claim really hinge upon why they weren’t already convinced to repent by the testimony of Moses and the Prophets?
To put it in modern language, isn’t Jesus essentially saying, “If they’re so deaf they can’t hear the testimony of Moses and the Prophets, they’re too deaf to hear anyone’s testimony no matter how amazing their story is”?
So, why would someone not be convinced to repent by the testimony of Moses and the Prophets?? Wouldn’t that unconvinced person be someone who was not receptive to the Spirit of God?
By contrast, isn’t the person who responds to the work of the Spirit within them, wooing and drawing them to God a person who believes the testimony of Moses and the Prophets and repents? [I speak in the context of the time before the establishment of the New Covenant.]
Now, consider the inverse of what Jesus said, “If they hear Moses and the Prophets, they will also be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”
So, what Jesus is really pointing out in the parable is that it doesn’t matter from whom the testimony that leads to repentance and faith comes; what matters is that the testimony is made alive in the heart of the hearer by The Spirit of God. It is not the source of the testimony that draws the unbelieving heart to repentance, but the working of the Spirit in the inner man.
The purpose of Jesus’ statement, then, is not to nullify the testimony of a resurrected person; it is to point out that NO testimony is sufficient to convince a person to repent apart from the inner working of The Spirit of God.
Colton claims to have seen Christ.
Can someone please explain to me why Jesus would still have bloody stigmata on his palms rather than have a perfect body in Heaven? Does this make sense? Why does this make sense?
Since you know that Colton went to Heaven and met Jesus, I have 2 questions.
Does it make sense that Jesus today as resurrected still has bloody stigmata on his palms rather than a perfect body?
Does it make sense that the soul of a boy who dies goes instantly straight to Heaven rather than being delayed until the final judgment day?
Since you read the book and were moved when Colton met his stillborn sister, I have a few questions?
How old was the sister in Heaven? 1 year old? 18 years old? 60 years old?
And does it make sense she is the age she is in Heaven when she died as a tiny infant? Why is she the age she is in Heaven as opposed to some other age?
I haven’t read the book. I have a few questions, please?
Colten met his grandfather. How old was his grandfather in Heaven? Why was his grandfather that age?
Since you read the book, how old was Colton’s stillborn sister’s apparent age in Heaven? Since she died before birth, why was her age that in Heaven and not some other age like 1 or 80?
How old was his grandfather’s apparent age in Heaven? Again, why that age and not 13 or 52?
I request that you please don’t ping me anymore on this kind of stuff.
This is info for anyone who lives near McCook Nebraska and is interested in seeing Todd Burpo:
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
“Author Returns for Bookstore’s Anniversary”
Friday, March 4, 2011...Dawn Cribbs
McCook Daily Gazette, Nebraska
“Time continues to fly by at New Life Christian Bookstore at 212 Norris Ave., as Lisa Wilcox prepares to mark her one year anniversary of ownership.
Wilcox also has been busy keeping the New York Times bestseller, “Heaven is for Real” in stock at the store after hosting a book signing with author Todd Burpo in October.
As part of the anniversary celebration, Burpo returns Saturday, MARCH 19, 2-4 P.M., for another book signing and a presentation at 6 P.M., at the historic Fox Theater in downtown McCook.
Burpo’s presentation will include a unique question/answer format, facilitated by Lisa Wilcox who is collecting 3X5 inch index cards with questions for the author.
http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1708147.html
“Actually, the eyes were characterized as and the painting shows them as blue-green. Not strictly typical blue eyes.”
It’s absurd to paint a picture of Jesus. All you get is the artist’s imagination.
“I’ve been to Egypt and was surprised at how many had blue eyes.”
I think we’re getting off the subject.
PLEASE READ #111, my POST to you, which said:
I pinged you because you responded to another article I posted today about this book today. It was titled:
Book Review: “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back”
(I do NOT have a ping list and will NOT BE PINGING anyone again, including you, if that was a concern.)
Now you asked me in post #161 not to ping you again when I already said I won't. This story is a publishing phenomenon and is being discussed as such. If it is offensive to you, you can post elsewhere.
“Read the book and then tell me if you still feel the same way.”
I’ve read a book that says ,”His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.” - Rev. 1:14,15
Since God wrote this book, I choose it as the standard that the others have to agree with.
Wow.. No need to get your shorts in a wad. :)
Good question. First he never met his great grandfather in life so didn't even know what he looked like. His Dad showed him a picture of him with gray hair and glasses and he said “No, he didn't look old like that and he had no glasses”. His Dad searched for a much younger picture, when he was in his twenties or thirties, and the boy responded, something like, “yea that's him”. He also was never told about how his Dad called his Grandfather “Pop”. The man in Heaven who introduced himself told him his Dad called him that.
The powers of darkness can easily do this same thing.
“How old was the sister in Heaven? “
This is how he explained how his “second sister looked” Now Cassie is his living sister who is just a year or two older than him.
quote
“She looked a lot like Cassie,” Colton said. “She is just a little bit smaller and she had dark hair”
unquote
Now Colton and Cassie are both blond, so the Mother was pleased to hear she had dark hair like her. She said she would often complain to her husband before, “I carry these kids for nine months and they come out looking like you”. Now that is funny.
Also he was never told about the miscarriage. When he told his Mom, “Did you know I have two sisters”, she nearly fell over. Colton retold the same story to a baby sitter and had the baby sitter all upset.
“The powers of darkness can easily do this same thing.”
What is harder to believe?
“The powers of darkness” put visions in this kids mind so his Pastor dad writes a best selling book that Heaven is for Real?
Or that maybe, just maybe this child really did leave his body, when he was at deaths door?
We can’t assume one way or the other, can we? We can only go to the Word and prayerfully test all things. Remember, wide is the way that leads to destruction, but narrow is the gate.
Colton told his story, and some people on this thread can't deal with it. He has the right to speak, and we have the right to buy the book, or not buy the book.
BTTT
I agree.
“Colton told his story, and some people on this thread can’t deal with it. He has the right to speak, and we have the right to buy the book, or not buy the book.”
Thank You, and are spot on. I did notice on the three or four threads on this book in the last two weeks - Not one “reader of the book”, came away saying it was bunk. The only ones saying so are the ones who have not read it.
You are right. For some reason, they're threatened by the book. But, I say that this is a free country, not Communist China, where this child would be persecuted for saying these things.
it is to point out that NO testimony is sufficient to convince a person to repent apart from the inner working of The Spirit of God.
NO trouble agreeing with that.
AND THAT HOLY SPIRIT HAS USED, IS USING AND WILL USE narratives like Colton’s
to draw folks to God and closer to God.
You didn’t read the book.
THEY WERE NOT BLOODY.
IIRC, the holes in HIS feet had brilliant light pouring out of them.
They are . . . hallmarks, jewels, well beyond RED BADGES OF COURAGE.
They are the only ‘imperfect’ things in Heaven . . . yet, they are perfect testimonies of HIS LOVE FOR EACH OF US.
I don’t blame HIM for wearing them for eternity or as long as He wishes—HE WELL EARNED THEM AND THE RIGHT!
And what brilliantly bright, vivid, impactful ‘war medals,’ ‘ribbons of glory’ they are.
BTW,
it’s not usually very
—wise
—good form
—safe
to tell ALMIGHTY GOD
HE’S
DOING IT WRONG!
I think any of us readers of this book went into it with the plan of “testing” it and not making judgments first as so many non readers are doing here. I, and it seems to be the rest of the readers who finished the book all say it sounds credible.
Are we 100% certain? No, its not our story it is theirs, but at the same time we have not found anything in it that would lead us to believe it was fabricated either.
So let them tell their story, what’s the harm in that? Bible book stores are full of the most wonderful testimonies from people of all ages.
JESUS DECLARED TO THE THIEF ON THE CROSS:
“TODAY YOU SHALL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE!”
No delay there.
No delay for Colton.
And many millions of others.
Colton wasn’t told EVERYTHING.
IIRC, she was likely around the age of a young teen or maybe some older. She wasn’t per se the standard 30 years looking.
Interestingly a fair number of such visitations have talked about aborted babies growing up and being taught the ways of God by angels, Mary had a class of such, others do as well.
Clearly time is quite DIFFERENT there.
It FEELS like you are chafing at the narrative because it jangles some of your assumptions, preconceptions etc. etc. etc.
Chafing at the way God does things is not wise. It is not His Peace. It is not His Rest.
He later talked about "the birdies" who took care of him and told him he would be OK.
After a lot of talk about "the birdies" it turned out he was talking about Angels.
God often doesn’t respond to our why’s.
WHY tends to have an accusing element in it.
God will NOT per se be accused—particularly in Heaven.
Any successful why in Heaven must be extremely innocent.
And God often declines to answer whys—even innocent whys.
He has His own reasons and priorities for each of us. Answering our whys vs REQUIRING THAT WE TRUST HIM REGARDLESS seems to be an abiding issue. He virtually always REQUIRES US TO TRUST HIM REGARDLESS.
His Grandfather looked as he did about 30, as verified by a photo of that age that Colton recognized. Colton did NOT recognize his Grandfather’s elderly pictures.
All adults in Heaven appear to be about 30 years old. God’s choice.
Sounds great.
Bloody? Not a perfect body? Where are you getting that rubbish?
You would agree book critics should read the book first, and movie critics should actually watch the movie, wouldn't you? In your multiple post you are not doing just what you would say they should do.
Read the book, and come back and engage the readers in some intelligent dialog.
What an absurd assertion!
PRETEND, for argument,
that YOU are an extremely gifted artist and that Holy Spirit enlivens your natural gifting yet further.
PRETEND that you sit chatting with a new acquaintance over lunch for an hour and a half.
PRETEND that as you get up to leave, the acquaintance steals your purse.
DO YOU THINK YOU’D BE ABLE TO PAINT A PRETTY GOOD PIC OF THE THIEF?
The young girl gifted with Heavenly visits was also gifted by God with her enormous artistic talents.
She saw Jesus extensively in Heaven over several visits.
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT COLTON REJECTED EVERY DEPICTION OF CHRIST UNTIL HE SAW HERS.
THEN HE SAID:
“THIS ONE’S RIGHT.”
THEY BOTH SAW JESUS FACE TO FACE.
DEAL WITH IT.
IT HAPPENED.
THAT SCRIPTURE
IS TALKING ABOUT THE ANCIENT OF DAYS,
THE FATHER!
Silly rabbit.
If anyone’s had their whities in a wad . . . look in the mirror.
What a dumb UNBIBLICAL assertion.
The powers of darkness according to the New Testament’s own criteria . . .
do not claim that Jesus came in the flesh and the other basic doctrines of the faith.
Have you never read any of the better quality narratives?
You sound extremely ignorant of the factors involved as well as angry at God for not running things according to YOUR priorities and sensibilities.
I don’t think such attitudes impress God favorably AT ALL.
Thanks for #191.
I was just pondering such reactions prayerfully for the umpteenth time . . .
God may have given me an insight into what’s going on with such naysayers.
1. At least most of them seem to have a gritch between them and God.
2. Evidently God at some level, to some degree has not managed the universe or their lives according to their specifications and sensibilities.
3. Therefore, there is at least some degree of unconscious or barely conscious or even conscious anger, angst, frustration, even outrage that God has not met their expectations of Him.
4. And comes along this upstart of a 4 YEAR OLD, NO LESS! Who gets a Jesus escorted tour of Heaven, all expenses paid. HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE GOD!
5. So THEN, to cope with their bubbling over anger at God that’s always been there since whatever disappointment(s), they SIMPLY MUST discredit the experiencer and all his experiences.
6. Otherwise, they must be compelled to believe that it is because of their UNIQUE AND PERSONAL AWFULNESS AND UNWORTHINESS that God has NOT given THEM such an experience. And, of course, satan is playing that violin to the hilt at loud inner volume.
7. Undoubtedly the sense of worthlessness and inadequacy has always or long been there from early significant degrees of ATTACHMENT DISORDER. And such narratives with satan chiming in as to why THEY haven’t been blessed with such just adds insult to injury.
8. “HOW DARE GOD! I was next in line! HARUMPH TO THE MAX!”
9. They evidently fail to consider that God has dozens of reasons for selecting and deselecting those He chooses for such experiences. And Worthlessness on the part of the individual is probbaly not in the first 10 reasons.
10. Apart from Christ, we are ALL worthless.
INDEED.
And the only thing that makes sense to me about the whys of that are what I just posted.
While I wholesale agree with you . . .
to nit pick a bit . . .
this country is marginally free on the surface.
Al Cuppett asserts (as have many others) that the PTB have 100,000 guillotines warehoused in the USA ready for exterminations . . . along with many other more mass oriented means. He has a pic of a rail car full of them.
He’s the former staff officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
I hope I can keep my white beard too.
I'm pleased to learn that we share that physical characteristic. :-)
Actually . . . I think I can say . . . I’m 100% certain it is as he told it.
Given the witness in my spirit and how the book came across to me . . . I’m that certain.
Right. I read that one.
Thanks.
THANKS MUCH.
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