Todd Burpo - Heaven is for Real : A Little Boys Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

PRAISE FOR HEAVEN IS FOR REAL

You will be moved by the honest, simple, childlike accounts of a little boy who has been to heaven. Its compelling and convincing. Its a book you should read. If youre ready to go to heaven, this book will inspire you. If youre not ready for heaven, allow a little child to lead you. Like Colton says, Heaven Is for Real.

Don Piper
Speaker and Author, 90 Minutes
in Heaven

Every now and again a manuscript comes across my desk where the title intrigues me. Thats what happened with this particular book called Heaven Is for Real. I thought Id just skim through it, but I couldnt put it down. I read it from cover to cover. I was so impacted by the story. Its a book that will not only make you love God more and fear death less, but it will help you understand that heaven is not a place where we just sit around for a thousand years singing Kumbaya; its a place where we begin to live as we were always meant to live, before the fall. If heaven is something that intrigues you, or troubles you, if you wonder what our lives will be like, then I highly recommend this book.

Sheila Walsh WOF
Speaker and Author,
Beautiful Things Happen When
a Woman Trusts God

Heaven is not a consolation prize. It is a real place that will be the eternal home for all who believe. Take a journey with Colton and Todd as they describe firsthand the wonders, mysteries, and majesty of heaven. It will make earth more meaningful and the future more hopeful.

Brady Boyd
Senior Pastor, New Life Church,
Colorado Springs

There have been many stories of near-death experiences that I simply have not read because I frankly didnt know if I could trust the author. Well, I have read this book cover to cover and, moreover, I could hardly put it down! Why? Because I know the author and I believe him. Todd Burpo gives us a wonderful gift as he and his son lift the veil on eternity, allowing us a quick glimpse of what lies on the other side.

Dr. Everett
Piper President, Oklahoma Wesleyan
University
Author, Why Im a Liberal and
Other Conservative Ideas

In this beautiful and well-written book, Colton, age four, has an experience consistent with a near-death experience (NDE) while under anesthesia. I have scientifically studied over 1,600 NDEs, and found that typical NDEs may occur in very young children and while under anesthesia. Even after studying so many NDEs, I found Coltons experience to be dramatic, exceptional, and an inspiration to Christians everywhere.

Jeffrey Long, MD
Founder, Near Death Experience
Research Foundation
Author, Evidence of the Afterlife:
The Science of Near-Death Experiences

A beautifully written glimpse into heaven that will encourage those who doubt and thrill those who believe.

Ron Hall
Coauthor, Same Kind of
Different as Me

Some stories want to be told. They simply have a life of their own. The book you hold in your hand is just such a story. But it wont stay long with you; it will bubble over into your conversations in search of someone who has not yet heard. I know it will happen to you because that is what happened to me.

Phil McCallum
Senior Pastor, Evergreen
Community Church
Bothell, Washington

The Bible describes heaven as the dwelling place of God. It is a real place that all those who submit their lives to God will have as an eternal dwelling. In this book Todd Burpo relays the account of his sons experience when he was in surgery for a burst appendix. It is honest and touching and encouraging to all of us who have an eternal hope.

Robert Morris
Pastor, Gateway Church,
Southlake, Texas

Heaven Is for Real is a wonderful book. It reaffirms how important faith is in our livesfor children as well as adults.

Timothy P. OHolleran, MD

Coltons story could have been in the New Testamentbut God has chosen to speak to us in this twenty-first century through the unblemished eyes of a child, revealing some of the mysteries of heaven. The writing is compelling and the truth astonishing, creating a hunger for more.

Jo Anne Lyon
General Superintendent,
The Wesleyan Church

God is so creative and credible! The discoveries of this book will amplify that in new ways. Ive known Colton since birth. As a toddler, he already had a keen spiritual interest and intensity. At about age 3, he sat on my knee, looked me in the eyes and asked if I wanted to go to heaven when I died. Then told me You need to have Jesus in your heart. I commend this book as a fresh perspective on the reality of God, who often seems hidden yet interrupts on His schedule.

Phil Harris
District Superintendent,
Colorado-Nebraska District of
the Wesleyan Church

It is always a blessing to hear that Akianes paintings have touched another persons life. Her Prince of Peace depiction of Christ remains one of her most beloved works. And as parents of a child that has experienced something extraordinary and unexplained by earthly measures, I celebrate with this family in their joy and in the telling of their special story.

Forelli Kramarik
Coauthor, Akiane: Her Life,
Her Heart, Her Poetry

Heaven Is for Real

Heaven Is for Real

A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

Todd Burpo
with Lynn Vincent

2010 by Todd Burpo

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Author is represented by the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION. 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Public domain.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Burpo, Todd.
Heaven is for real : a little boys astounding story of his trip to heaven and back / Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-8499-4615-8 (pbk.)
1. HeavenChristianity. 2. Burpo, Colton, 1999 3. Near-death experiencesReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Vincent, Lynn. II. Title.
BT846.3.B87 2010
133.901'3092dc22 2010023391