Reviews for A Travel Guide to Heaven

The average rating for A Travel Guide to Heaven based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2008-05-04 00:00:00 Rickie Scott Anthony DeStephano's A Travel Guide to Heaven is a very upbeat, lighthearted look at a subject which is too often only broached by serious theologians. Without going into denominational debates DeStephano presents a truly inviting description of Heaven as a real place'or rather the Place of all places'inhabited with those we love, beautiful beyond imagining and completely physical, all the while drawing from what we know of the revealed God'both in Scripture as well as the glories of His created world. However, as Jesus said when He 'called a child over, placed it in their midst, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."' (Matthew 18:2-4) It isn't our grownup knowledge and pride that is going to do us much good here. Rather we're going to have to become little. This is true both in terms of understanding what Heaven is (the concept) as well as what it takes to get there (the means). Later DeStephano makes the point another way, 'you must make God the sovereign of your life. God'not some vague spiritual "force," not "mother nature" not the Earth, not some trendy social theory, not money, not power, not fame, not TV, not sex. God. ... The most important thing to reject is the notion that you are your own ticket to heaven. As the saying going, there are two big lessons to learn in life: There is a God, and I'm not him.' I admit the book made me unspeakably happy, but then I have never had any doubts about Heaven, nor trouble imagining all the wonderful things possible in such a realm, not the least of which is to finally see the One I love so much. However, this is the first time I have encountered an author who has described so many of my hopes and dreams for eternity. It was especially refreshing to discover that artists, writers and teachers will never want for creative 'work' - and yes in the sense that most artists cannot not create, there will be 'work' for them in Heaven. But I dare say they will find this welcome news, as I do. So if there is some place you always wanted to go, someone you miss so much you can hardly say their name without crying or something you think you've gotten too old to do and will never get the chance'don't despair. We are finite beings with infinite longings because we were made for an Infinite Being and destined for Eternity. As C. S. Lewis said, this is but the shadowlands. As for the argument that Heaven is just wishful thinking, listen to what DeStephano writes:'To say that religion'particularly Christian religion'is wishful thinking flies in the face of all common sense and logic. Is it wishful thinking to believe in hell, the devil and demons? Is it wishful thinking to believe we're going to be judged and held accountable for every sin we've ever committed? Is it wishful thinking to believe the best way to live our life is to sacrifice our own desires for the sake of others? Is it wishful thinking to believe that we should discipline our natural bodily urges for the sake of some unseen "kingdom"? And while we're at it, is it wishful thinking to believe our God wants us to love our enemies? For goodness sake what kind of demand is that?'My point is that if human beings were going to invent a religion based on their own wishful thinking, they could do a lot "better" than Christianity. Why in the world would we make it so hard on ourselves? Why not wish for a religion that had a heaven, but at the same time allowed promiscuous sex, encouraged gluttony, did away with the commandments, and forbade anyone to ever mention the idea of judgment and punishment? Wouldn't that make a lot more sense? But if you are willing to do what our God asks, perhaps some early morning you may find yourself walking along a stretch of beach and come upon a youngish man cooking freshly caught fish over a charcoal fire. He might look up at you, wave and invite you over for breakfast with him and his friends. I don't know about you, but that's one meal I wouldn't want to miss. (cf John 21)

Review # 2 was written on 2008-03-13 00:00:00 Deryck Jordan This book gave me a new perspective on Heaven. It makes you want to go there, and calm your fears of the unknown.