I couldn't stop myself from buying this book. When I read the title and the back of the book, my curiosity wouldn’t let me attempt to put it back on the shelf. I was hooked. I had to read more...
A True Story of Death and Life - 90 Minutes In HEAVEN, the title said. Don Piper with Cecil Murphey. A biography/autobiography of a Baptist minister from Texas, who had actually died, was pronounced dead at the scene of a accident, and stayed dead for 90 minutes. A 90 minutes that were, according to Piper's memories, spent in heaven.
In 1989, Don Piper attended a Baptist convention in Texas. After the convention was over, he drove toward his church in a Ford Escort (a small car). As he drove across a bridge, a 18 wheeler driven by a unlicensed inmate from the Texas Department of Corrections, crossed the center line and hit Don Piper's car head-on, smashing the small car beneath the huge truck wheels. The bridge railing kept Don’s car from going over the railing, but Don Piper was pronounced dead at the scene the moment EMT's arrived. EMT's said that Don had died instantly and covered his vehicle, with him inside, while they cared for the other accident victims and directed traffic. Since he was dead, there was no hurry in moving the body and they had called the Jaws of Life to get him out of the vehicle before transporting him to the morgue. His pulse was checked again, after a time, and he was still dead.
During the time Don Piper was dead, a full 90 minutes, he remembers visiting heaven. Most of us have heard the stories of people dying and going through long, dark tunnels toward a light, voices calling out to them and an assortment of other details. Don Piper says he didn’t experience any of these things.
From Chapter 2 [My Time In Heaven], page 21... "Simultaneous with my last recollection of seeing the bridge and the rain, a light enveloped me, with a brilliance beyond earthly comprehension or description. Only that... In my next moment of awareness, I was standing in heaven."
After that, Piper states that he was in pure bliss. As he felt the wondrous joy, he also became aware of a large crowd of people standing at a brilliant gate. The people rushed toward him and he knew they were people he had known on earth who had died, people who had touched his life in some way... friends, family members, teachers. And, above all, he felt overwhelming love, love beyond earthly cognition. Piper says that he felt a "heightened awareness" of his senses. As if he hadn't experienced anything so real before, that he wasn't conscious of anything left behind and felt no regrets about leaving earthly family or possessions. He believes that "God had removed anything negative or worrisome from his consciousness".... I don’t know about you, but that definitely sounds like HEAVEN to me.
Dick Onerecker, another minister that Don Piper had recently met at the convention he was leaving when his accident happened, came upon the scene of the accident. Being a minister of the gospel, Onerecker asked if there was anyone he could pray for. He was told that the man in the Ford Escort was deceased, but the Holy Spirit told him to pray for the dead man anyway.
Despite the authorities affirmation that Don was already dead and had been dead for over an hour and Dick's own theological experience which told him that praying for the dead was pointless, Onerecker followed the Holy Spirit's prompting and went over to Don Piper's car.
Without knowing who the dead man was, Dick went over to the Ford Escort, which was covered with a tarp. Dick moved beneath the tarp to put a hand on Don's shoulder. He began praying and prayed in a way that he had never prayed before. He also sang gospel songs and when he sang "What A Friend We Have In Jesus"... Don Piper began to sing with him.
As you can imagine, Don Piper wasn't exactly excited about being back on earth and especially being back on earth in the situation he was in. His body was badly injured and he would go through incredible pain and humiliation in his coming recovery process. Don was not a happy camper.
Indeed, he didn't understand why God had made him come back to such a difficult situation. He was disappointed to be back on earth and his recovery would be even harder with the knowledge of what he'd experienced in heaven.
90 Minutes in Heaven details much more about Don Piper's perceptions of heaven, his battle with pain and depression after the realization hits him that he's back on earth, and the ways that his life has changed due to his experience. Why? Don asks himself this question much of the time as the story moves forward. Gradually, Piper comes to realize that God had a purpose for sending him back and he is determined to fulfill that purpose.
These 205 pages are divided into 18 Chapters, each supported by a lead in Verse from the Bible. The specifics of Don Piper's experience are astounding and should intrigue any Christian reader or believer. His story is an affirmation of faith that will assuredly strengthen and encourage many.
If you are anything like myself, I believe your curiosity will lead you to read Don Piper's 90 Minutes In Heaven. Although the book is coauthored by Cecil Murphey, the story is entirely Piper's own and will obviously be an inspiration to all who read it.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight"... Proverbs 3: 5-6 NIV
©2005 faithforever
Other Inspirational Books I've Reviewed include:
The Language of Prayer: A Blue Mountain Arts Collection
The Battle Belongs to the Lord: Overcoming Life's Struggles Through Worship
90 Minutes In Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth
Inspiring Words From the Psalms for Women: Reflections on God's Gift of Inner Beauty, Peace, and Happiness
God is Always Watching over You: An Inspirational Reminder of God's Constant Presence in Our Lives
The Language of Recovery: A Blue Mountain Arts Collection
FOR CHILDREN: Little House Books
Think Positive Thoughts Every Day: Words to Inspire a Brighter Outlook on Life
You're Just Like A Sister To Me - Blue Mountain Arts Anthology
Keep Believing in Yourself and Your Special Dreams: Words to Motivate and Inspire Your Dreams
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