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'Heaven is for Real-- a 4-year-old boy’s glimpse into the afterlife' Tops NY Times Bestseller List
Christian Post ^ | 02/26/2011 | Wesley Ernst

Posted on 02/27/2011 8:27:34 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Heaven is for Real – the story of a 4-year-old boy’s glimpse into the afterlife – has topped the New York Times Best Sellers List for seven consecutive weeks – setting a new record for book publisher Thomas Nelson, Inc.

During the week of March 6, Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back will be listed as the #1 "nonfiction paperback" and #1 "print hardcover and paperback combined.” The book’s authors include Pastor Todd Burpo, his wife Sonja, and their son Colton. Lynn Vincent, a New York Times best-selling writer, also contributed to the book.

"It has been incredible to watch the contagious enthusiasm of readers drive the success of Heaven is for Real," said Michael Hyatt, Thomas Nelson chairman and Chief Executive Officer, according to a statement.

“Colton's story gives a wonderful glimpse into what lies ahead for believers, and encourages us to embrace our childlike faith.”

The book is based on the true story of a pastor’s son in a small town in Nebraska.

Colton Burpo suffered from a life-threatening illness when he was just 4 years old. While undergoing surgery, the young boy slips into unconsciousness and enters heaven. He ultimately survives and begins to recount an out-of-body experience to his family – who remain skeptical at first. Soon, they come to believe the child’s story.

Though the story is told through Colton’s eyes, the book is written by his father, Todd Burpo, in cooperation with Lynn Vincent.

Throughout the story, the message is simple: heaven is a real place; Jesus really loves children; be ready, there is a coming last battle.

Since its release in November last year, the book’s sales continue to surpass expectations, says the book’s publisher.

It is currently ranked #6 by USA Today, #4 for nonfiction paperback by Publisher's Weekly, #4 for nonfiction paperback by National Public Radio, and #3 by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

At the time of this writing, Heaven is for Real has reached its one millionth print.


TOPICS: General Discusssion; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: bestseller; heaven; neardeathexperience
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1 posted on 02/27/2011 8:27:41 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Chocolate.


2 posted on 02/27/2011 8:41:31 AM PST by bigheadfred (THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE HAS BEGUN)
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To: bigheadfred

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7A_M8pzm5M


3 posted on 02/27/2011 8:45:29 AM PST by Krankor (And he's oh, so good, And he's oh, so fine, And he's oh, so healthy, In his body and his mind)
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To: SeekAndFind

I just recently finished reading the book. It is a little off-putting at first as it reads more like a novel than a first or second person account of a real happening in the first chapters, but I suppose that is due to the “professional” help the father had with writing the book. But after they get into the actual things the boy was telling them it is terrific. It is a wonderful read. Very engrossing.


4 posted on 02/27/2011 8:46:02 AM PST by mc5cents (Government doesn't solve problems, it subsidizes them. -- Ronald Reagan)
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To: SeekAndFind
There's another child reincarnation story that's very convincing.
I haven't read the book Soul Survivor but I did see a documentary and also read about it on-line.
Very convincing.

5 posted on 02/27/2011 8:52:28 AM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: oh8eleven

Sorry but the Bumpo story is not a story of reincarnation. The boy did not come back to life as something or someone else. The family is Christian. The father is a pastor. Christians do not believe in reincarnation.

Heaven is real, so is hell, reincarnation is not. Don’t confuse them.


6 posted on 02/27/2011 9:04:21 AM PST by Waryone (RINOs, Elites, and Socialists - on the endangered list, soon to become extinct.)
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To: Waryone; oh8eleven; xzins

Wasn’t John the Baptist Elijah reincarnated?


7 posted on 02/27/2011 9:22:59 AM PST by bigheadfred (THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE HAS BEGUN)
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To: bigheadfred
"Wasn’t John the Baptist Elijah reincarnated?"

As far as we know Elijah never died.

8 posted on 02/27/2011 9:47:05 AM PST by circlecity
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To: bigheadfred

NO


9 posted on 02/27/2011 9:59:42 AM PST by Catsrus (Have)
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To: oh8eleven
That is an amazing story.

Personally I have corresponded for almost a decade with parents who lost their children as I did. Some of the after-death visitation stories are incredible. They kept our hope all going sometimes. One of the most facsinating stories was from a Mom whose healthy 5 yr old daughter described her own coming death, and told her the angels had prepared her for it before she was born. Of course Mom thought it was a charming fantasy. The child did die suddenly a year later of acute liver failure, rapid onset, and in exactly the great pain she had told her mother the angels had told her she would have to bear. I get teary just thinking about it. I believe the term is "precognition"

10 posted on 02/27/2011 10:02:42 AM PST by silverleaf (All that is necessary for evil to succeed, is that good men do nothing)
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To: SeekAndFind
Since its release in November last year, the book’s sales continue to surpass expectations, says the book’s publisher.

Of course it's 'surpassed expectations' - it's a conservative book. They (liberal elites) expected it to fail. This is the flip side of 'unexpected' - as in unexpected increase in unemployment ... ( when a dem is President)...

11 posted on 02/27/2011 10:09:58 AM PST by GOPJ (http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php - It's only uncivil when someone on the right does it.- Laz)
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To: circlecity

I think Elijah died.

I think Enoch died.


12 posted on 02/27/2011 10:15:32 AM PST by bigheadfred (THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE HAS BEGUN)
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To: Waryone
Heaven is real, so is hell, reincarnation is not.
You BELIEVE it but can't prove it. Quit forcing your beliefs on others.
13 posted on 02/27/2011 10:25:39 AM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: bigheadfred

What would you base your opinion upon? The Bible is not just mute on the fate of Elijah. You have to resort to extra-Biblical texts to discover the same for Enoch. It’s not as if they were assumed to have died the physical death that awaits us all and it just wasn’t mentioned.

I personally believe Enoch and Elijah will be the Two Witnesses of Revelation. There they will die the physical death that awaits all, and then be resurrected to the astonishment and fear of all the hostile world, that will have left them lying in the street unburied and celebrated. It’s odd to have to resort to speaking of future as history, but that’s the only way I can encompass the prophecy in conversation.

So, since this is so at odds with what I and many others believe and accept on faith, please elaborate. I’m very interested in learning your perspective.


14 posted on 02/27/2011 10:26:57 AM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: SeekAndFind

I am so confused. I thought the dead are dead until Christ returns for the final Judgment. How could a child be in Heaven instantly? And if he did go straight to Heaven upon the instant of death, then why is their a judgment day, why would Christ need a 2nd coming?

The details of Christianity are so confusing.


15 posted on 02/27/2011 10:27:24 AM PST by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (We be Fooked.)
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To: SeekAndFind
A news video about this young boys incredible story here.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=266025

I ordered his book which arrived yesterday.

16 posted on 02/27/2011 10:32:53 AM PST by NavyCanDo
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To: oh8eleven
Where do you get the idea this is a reincarnation?

Reincarnation is an absurd lie from the father of all lies.

17 posted on 02/27/2011 10:36:05 AM PST by NavyCanDo
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To: Freedom_Is_Not_Free
“I am so confused. I thought the dead are dead until Christ returns for the final Judgment.”

Jesus said to one of the thieves being crucified with him, “TODAY you will be with me in Paradise”. Moses and Elijah where seen by three of his disciples talking with Jesus during the transfiguration. That and many other Bible references proves that our soul is not trapped in our body until the Resurrection. I believe our spirit in a spirit body waits for the Resurrection where we are joined with our new perfect resurrected body.

18 posted on 02/27/2011 10:44:54 AM PST by NavyCanDo
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To: Freedom_Is_Not_Free

You can make sense of it by understanding that we are ourselves in a sense triune as are the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. We are body, soul and spirit, in His image as we are told from Genesis onward.

Armed with this understanding, then approach the previously confusing and seemingly conflicting passages. The soul is in the blood and the soul sleeps at death, according to the Bible. To be absent the body is to be in the presence of the Lord. The spirit returns to Him, according to the Bible again.

The body and hence the soul will be resurrected from “sleep” and unknowning, death. The spirit did not and does not die.

That’s the understanding I’ve been under, at least. Others may debate this, it’s a topic fraught with disagreement. But, it makes sense out of seeming contradiction. All scripture is true, therefore there is no genuine conflict.


19 posted on 02/27/2011 10:49:10 AM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: oh8eleven

You were the one who decided to associate what happened with this boy to the false belief in reincarnation. It had nothing to do with what happened to him.

I was once a New Ager. The Lord saved me with the Way, the Truth and the Life, Jesus Christ. You can choose to accept the truth or not. I’m not forcing anything on you, libby. May the Lord open your eyes to the truth before it is too late for you.


20 posted on 02/27/2011 10:57:28 AM PST by Waryone (RINOs, Elites, and Socialists - on the endangered list, soon to become extinct.)
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