Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You

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He knew there were colors everywhere, but he couldn’t distinguish what shade they were since he’d been born blind. When one man's life was reviewed by God, he was surprised that none of his professional successes and awards were mentioned.

Although I have never had an NDE, I was blessed to have a dream or a vision of my husband shortly after his death. Not one biblical person ever gave any recorded account of his or her postmortem experience in the realm of departed souls. I could see her in perfect health, with all the music which she loved so much and envisioning what she was probably seeing and doing, gave me a peace about her death that I don't think I would have had if I hadn't read this book. NDEs differ from one person to the next, but the hundreds of studies conducted over the years have shown that there are some striking similarities. Burke is an engineer and a former skeptic and he seems to have written this book with the skeptic in mind, meaning he answered a lot of my (skeptical) questions without seeming defensive (the whole church experience there seems very skeptic friendly, actually).Imagine Heaven has encouraged me to try to see others through God's eyes -- His love, mercy, and grace. Just imagine, that point of life you feared most - the death of your earthly body - suddenly frees you in a way you never anticipated. I read this again and, while it made me cry, I could picture her reuniting with her parents who had died at the ages of 50 and 51, along with all the rest of family and friends who had died before her.

Retired bank president and golf enthusiast Marv Besteman, who died after getting his pancreatic tumor removed, also reported the lusciousness of the grass in heaven. As a scientist, I particularly appreciated John Burke's careful analysis of the significant amount of raw 'data' from NDE interviews with people of very different ages, cultures, religious beliefs, and physical challenges (such as blindness) to find the common elements that emerge to give a vibrant picture of what life after death will likely entail. I give it two stars because it was an interesting read, and I would recommend it to anyone who's interested in the subject. He picks people to focus on who have little if nothing to gain by sharing their stories, and in some cases, quite a lot to lose.Anyone whose destiny is heaven will certainly experience more joy and honor there than the fallen mind is capable of comprehending—infinitely more than any fallen creature deserves. As I age and witness many of my elders passing (sadly, even some from my generation), it gives me great comfort to know not that they are simply in a "better place", but insight into what that place is like.