july 29, 2005
90 Minutes in Heaven Causes a Stir
This week's Publisher's Weekly highlights 90 Minutes in Heaven, by Don Piper and my good friend, Cec Murphey. This book is generating some buzz in Christian publishing circles. Here is what Jana Reiss of Publisher's Weekly Religion BookLine e-mail newsletter writes:
"In 1989, Southern Baptist pastor Don Piper had a near-fatal car wreck when his vehicle was crushed under a semi. The truck landed on his legs, mangling his body and removing four inches of his femur. Emergency workers assumed he was dead and covered him with a tarp. It wasn’t until a fellow pastor prayed over him and felt a twitch that anyone realized he was still clinging to life."
A reader named Robin gives this short review on Amazon.com:
"Don Piper tells his story in this unforgettable book -- with the help of author Cec Murphy, the reader experiences Don's accident and death along with him. He is with Don all the way as he finds himself before the pearly gates, then regrettably drawn back into his earthly body. The frustrations and pain Don endured were beyond my own understanding -- yet I knew God had a plan for this man. I read it through in one sitting, then mailed the book to a friend who is undergoing chemo treatments. I'm that sure it will uplift her spirits!"
As I said, my dear friend Cec Murphey co-wrote this book. You may not know his name, but he's written many books with people that you do know:
He's also written his own wonderful books, including:
I highly recommend reading anything by Cec Murphey. Learn more about him at his Web site.
Back to 90 Minutes in Heaven … here's a short interview with Don Piper from Amazon.com:
Tell us a little about yourself: I'm an army brat by birth. I have a degree in Broadcasting and spent 14 years on Radio and TV. I've been in the full-time ministry for 19 years. I am terminally in love with the game of baseball!
What was your motivation behind this project? Self-defense! I've lived the last 15 years of my life frustrating people I have met because I could never spend enough time with them explaining my encounter with Heaven. Everyone always wanted to know MORE than I had time to share. 90 Minutes In Heaven: A True Story of Life and Death answers those questions.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? Very simple: 1. To know Heaven is real and you can go there. 2. That those who knew Christ and preceeded us will be waiting at the gate. 3. That God still works miracles. 4. That there are some things that happen in this life which permanently change us. And, we must embrace that change by discovering a "new normal." 5. Tragic circumstances and great pain can give way to amazing ministry opportunities!
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? I read all kinds of materials. I love humor, op-ed pieces, riveting stories, and nostalgia. My favorite subjects are fascinating people, Americana, and the Glory of Christ. I enjoy reading everything from Yancey to Lucado to Spurgeon.
Anything else you'd like readers to know: Yes, Heaven is utterly real and absolutely breathtaking. God is still in the business of miracles. God wants us to ceaselessly share our faith in word and deed.
Order your copy of 90 Minutes in Heaven on Shop CBN
More from Cec Murphey on CBN.com
Other books by Cec Murphy on Shop CBN
More from Craig
von Buseck on CBN.com
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