90 Minutes in Heaven

Response to 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper

Back cover reads:
"On the way home from a conference, Don Piper's car was crushed by a semi that crossed into his lane. Medical personnel said he died instantly. While his body lay lifeless inside the ruins of his car, Piper experienced the glories of heaven, awed by its beauty and music. 90 minutes after the wreck, while a minister prayed for him, Piper miraculously returned to life on earth with only the memory of inexpressible heavenly bliss. his faith in God was severely tested as he faced an uncertain and grueling recovery. Now he shares his life-changing story with you. 9o minutes in heaven offers a glimpse into a very real dimension of God's reality. It encourages those recovering from serious injuries and those dealing with the loss of a loved one. The experience dramatically changed Piper's life, and it will change yours, too."

My rxn:
boy, those were some bold statements made by the publishers on the back of the book. This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I told him I'd read it. To be completely honest, I wouldn't have read it otherwise. Actually, I hadn't planned on reading it at all, but i found it sitting on a table at my mother's house. I polished it off today in about 4 hours. Quick read. There are some great things in here- i especially enjoyed his descriptions of Heaven and the joys to come, but the rest (and majority) of the book was one big yawn fest. I've read a few other books like The Burn Journals and Death Be Not Proud, and this one was pretty similar. I liked the fact that it had the added perspective of how Don was trying to find out why God sent him back to earth... but it was kind of a redundant read for me. I really didn't like it too much.

I'm not trying to be flippant, but i guess I just don't want to hear this. I don't want to experience heaven vicariously through an earthly tongue. It will be more sublime than anything i could ever imagine. my favorite vocabulary words won't even be able to begin to describe it. :) I'm pretty darn jealous of people who die... because I know that they get to stand in God's presence... and we only feel a little of that here on earth. I guess I'm also a little jaded because I've been through two deaths in my immediate family. The most recent being my mother's dad. But the one that hurt the most was my other grampa. I was actually there watching when he died. I guess the level at which I can relate to Don most is his testimonial. I also have a really tough testimonial to share with people... and it has changed lives.

so yeah. it was pretty blah. there were a few quotes that got to me though:

"The first person I recognized was my grandfather. He looked exactly as I remembered him. [...] He stopped momentarily and stood in front of me. A grin covered his face. I may have called his name, but I'm not sure. [...] His eyes lit up, and he held out his arms as he took the last steps toward me. He embraced me, holding me tightly. He was once again the robust, strong grandfather I had remembered as a child. [...] I have no idea why my grandfather was the first person I saw. Perhaps it had something to do with my being there when he died" (22-23). yup. pretty much bawled at this.

"To that nurse, she may have been 'just a wife,' but Eva took over and functioned for both of us after y accident. I had always taken care of the bills, bank accounts, insurance, and most family matters. She had no choice but to handle them herself, and she did everything well. Eva found strength and a new level of confidence. God provided her with the wisdom to help her take care of family matters. She also learned to remain calm during my complaints and grumbling throughout my lengthy recovery" (143). Marriage is hardly ever 50/50.

"It still amazes me that I can be a blessing to so many just by sharing my experience" (158). Same here with my witness talk. I don't think it will ever lose credibility or value for those who need to hear it.