The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven

No other book on heaven impacted my life as much as this one. I finished reading it in 2 days this past week. What I loved the most is the tangible presence of God in the room whilst reading it also Alex's relationship with God and the fact he has such a continual link with heaven, angels and God that is available to us all...by faith. And I really got the sense of time - present, past and future - being an earthly dimension and that heaven is right HERE, right NOW and we can all experience it if we only believe. Living each moment in the light of eternity.

Here is the publisher's description of the book:

In 2004, Kevin Malarkey and his six-year-old son, Alex, suffered an horrific car accident. The impact from the crash paralyzed Alex-and medically speaking, it was unlikely that he could survive. "I think Alex has gone to be with Jesus," a friend told the stricken dad. But two months later, Alex awoke from a coma with an incredible story to share. Of events at the accident scene and in the hospital while he was unconscious. Of the angels that took him through the gates of heaven itself. Of the unearthly music that sounded just terrible to a six-year-old. And, most amazing of all . . . Of meeting and talking to Jesus. The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven is the true story of an ordinary boy's most extraordinary journey. As you see heaven and earth through Alex's eyes, you'll come away with new insights on miracles, life beyond this world, and the power of a father's love.

If you haven't already read it, buy a copy this week - and a spare one for a friend, it is definitely the kind of book you want to pass on.

Eternity

There always has to be a beginning, and then I want to know, who was there to watch the start?

One of my favourite passages is in the Book of Proverbs: 

 ^22-31 "God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—
   before he did anything else.
I was brought into being a long time ago,
   well before Earth got its start.
I arrived on the scene before Ocean,
   yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes.
Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape,
   I was already there, newborn;
Long before God stretched out Earth's Horizons,
   and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather,
And set Sky firmly in place,
   I was there.
When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean,
   built the vast vault of Heaven,
   and installed the fountains that fed Ocean,
When he drew a boundary for Sea,
   posted a sign that said no trespassing,
And then staked out Earth's Foundations,
   I was right there with him, making sure everything fit.
Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause,
   always enjoying his company,
Delighted with the world of things and creatures,
   happily celebrating the human family.*

Today I felt challenged and inspired to put some thoughts down in response to a friend (on Facebook, yes I am there along with about half the planet). He was wondering out loud as people do on social media how many days he had left to live (it was something like 16,659 days left if he lived to a hundred) and he asked the question: "How old are you? How many days do you have left for purpose, passion, prosperity and love?" After giving it a few moment's thought, this was my gut-felt response:

"Today is the first day of my life in eternity...living each day in the light of Eternity.. what can I do today that will impact someone's life in a positive way forEVER? So I have infinite days yet each day counts as a treasure." It is so easy to let the essence of our lives slip through our fingers, not living fully present in the moment. And we all do that, to varying degrees in our lives. When I was 16 I wrote an essay at high school on how I wanted to live every moment to the full. And today I am reminded of that. Amazing and wonderful things are happening all around us. We just need to pay attention. My favourite moment today was when a little bird sat on the top of my open window frame and started serenading me  with a pretty song. Had I been too absorbed in my work at that moment I would have lost something special - a moment of communion with nature and somehow through that, with the Creator of us all.