90 Minutes in Heaven_ A True Story of Death & Life - Don Piper [0]
—DONALD MILLER, AUTHOR, BLUE LIKE JAZZ
“Don Piper’s ninety minutes in heaven changed his life and his perspective. Reading his book will give you the assurance that God is faithful to bring you through even the most horrific of circumstances. May his eyewitness account of the hope that lies before you change your perspective of this life as well!”
—MICHAEL CARTER, CBN CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
“Captivating and well written, this book holds your attention and often holds your heart. Don tells his story, his experience that all Christians long to hear. His experience will lift your spirit and soften your pain.”
—RON HILL, PASTOR, THE FELLOWSHIP OF SAN ANTONIO
90
MINUTES IN
HEAVEN
A TRUE STORY
of DEATH & LIFE
DON PIPER
WITH CECIL MURPHEY
© 2004 by Don Piper
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
E-book edition created 2009
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-0000-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture marked NIV is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
To the prayer warriors . . .
You prayed; I’m here!
Contents
A Word from the Publisher
Acknowledgments
Prologue
1. The Accident
2. My Time in Heaven
3. Heavenly Music
4. From Heaven to Earth
5. Earth to Hospital
6. The Recovery Begins
7. Decisions and Challenges
8. Pain and Adjustments
9. Endless Adjustments
10. More Miracles
11. Back to Church
12. Opening Up
13. The Clasping Hand
14. The New Normal
15. Touching Lives
16. Finding Purpose
17. Longing for Home
18. The Why Questions
Notes
A WORD FROM
THE PUBLISHER
Publishers look for any business principle that takes the risk out of our publishing decisions. Linking books with readers can be a baffling enterprise, so we welcome any trustworthy guidance. When my grandfather, Herman Baker, founded Baker Book House many years ago, he built his company around publishing the works of classical Christian writers. Their works had endured through the ages, so they presented minimal financial risk. This approach had other practical benefits as well. Authors such as Martin Luther, my grandfather reminded us, didn’t demand a royalty advance from his company treasurer. A long-departed author was never overdue with a manuscript, and he wouldn’t contact our office for weekly updates on how his book was selling. Living authors, whatever their virtues, are prone to these habits and to many other human foibles that distracted our company founder. My father, Richard Baker, later summarized this business strategy well: “Dead authors are the easiest people to publish.”
In spite of his taste for classics, Herman Baker did establish and savor friendships with many living authors. Martin Luther might not complain about your marketing plan, but you can’t enjoy lunch with him either.
With the introduction of author Don Piper to our company, we inadvertently discovered a unique author who fits in both categories. Don suffered a traumatic death during an auto accident in 1989, but he also visits our offices occasionally to meet with our staff and, yes, enjoy a meal with us. Don is