Heaven is for Real

HORSEFAIRE’S BOOK REVIEW - HEAVEN IS FOR REAL BY TODD BURPO

      As snow piles up around us and sub zero temperatures cause numerous school cancellations here in Glastonbury maybe( between shoveling) we can find time to read with our families!      A delightful new book chronicles the true story of a young boy who emerges from life-saving emergency  surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven. After a misdiagnosis and a delay, Colton Burpo was only four years old when he slipped from consciousness on the operating table and enters heaven. His family did not know what to think when many months later he began talking about his adventure even though he did not even have the language skills to properly describe his wonderful experience. Seven years later his father who is a Pastor from Nebraska documents the journey and thoroughly cross- references this charming story with lots of scripture readings to match up with Colton’s story.      The most exciting and comforting part of the book is when Colton asks his dad…      ”Did you know Jesus has a horse? He showed me his horse.He is the only one that can ride that horse.”       I think maybe, that horse could be the colt that Jesus rode into Jerusalem.( Luke 19:30)                Are there horses in heaven? A scripture that I like is, 2 Kings 6:17 - And Elisha prayed, and said,”Lord I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. When the Prophet Elisha was in terrible danger God sent a fabulous army of angels and horses from heaven to protect him.            Remember the ancient tale of Alexander the Great and his beloved horse Bucephalus? In a scene from The Black Stallion, Alec’s dad tells how Alexander wanted Bucephalus for his own.He was promptly told,                                  ” You can have that horse if you can ride that horse!”