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Boy Says He Has Been to Heaven, Where Everyone Has Wings
Filed under: In The News, Religion & Spirituality
Todd and Sonja Burpo may have believed an angel was looking over their 4-year-old son, who survived a life-threatening burst appendix.
Colton Burpo, now 11, says it's true.
"A few angels, they came, picked me up and I was looking right at Jesus," Colton, from the small town of Imperial, Neb., tells "Today."
After 17 days in the hospital, the boy started to talk about things he could not have known about, "Today" reports, including a miscarriage suffered by his mother, prayers his father made during Colton's surgery and meeting "Pop," his great-grandfather.
"I was just sitting by the Holy Spirit, and then this guy comes up to me and says, 'are you Todd's son?' I said yes. He says, 'Well, I'm his grandfather," Colton tells "Today." "... Pop, he was very big, huge wings, he had curly hair, big smile and he was really nice."
The experience led Todd Burpo, a pastor, to write the New York Times best-selling nonfiction book "Heaven is for Real."
"He could tell me where I was while he was in surgery," Todd Burpo tells "Today." "The surgeons couldn't tell me that. The nurses couldn't. My wife couldn't tell me where I was praying but he could tell me."
Sonja Burpo says her son told her angels sang to him.
"There's a lot of colors, there are a lot of people and a lot of animals," Colton says, describing Heaven.
He also says everyone in Heaven has wings -- his were a bit smaller than other's, and that no one there is old.
"I like that part," Todd Burpo says.
Todd Burpo says Colton's story has inspired so many people because of "hope, healing -- they know what they have to look forward to," he tells "Today."
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 24)
3-22-2011 @ 12:41AM
richard folks said...Welcome to This Is BS Inc.! A place to vent about your frustrations in
everyday life. Talk about anything that has every made you say "This
is BS!!"
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3-22-2011 @ 1:10AM
tsismysk8shop said...This is a fat load of bull crap most people people who die and come back are previously religious or not and they make up stories because they can make money off human stupidity. I know someone who is now Christian he had died from and overdose but had luckily been brought back and kept his life he had told me he had no recollection of any events that occured when he was dead. He didn't even know he died and came back until the doctors told him. That's why I will never believe any of these silly stories.
3-22-2011 @ 2:45AM
job1866 said...You might want to think about this........
10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.
9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.
8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.
7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!
6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.
5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.
4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."
3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.
2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.
1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.
3-22-2011 @ 2:45AM
jo said...You might want to think about this........
10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.
9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.
8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.
7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!
6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.
5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.
4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."
3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.
2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.
1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.
Religion falls apart whe you use common sense and logic
3-22-2011 @ 3:58AM
Sandy said...YOU are poo. I believe this 100000000%.
There have been people who have died and experienced hell, then were given opportunities to come back and tell about it.
To have someone finally go to Heaven and experience what it's like and come back and tell about it, is just incredible, and amazing!
God Bless You All!
3-22-2011 @ 6:18AM
ajchiri said...A person who believes in Christianity should follow the teachings and beliefs of Jesus as they are written in the Bible to the best of their ability; THAT is what it means to be A Christian, not JUST that you accept Jesus as your savior. Christ may dwell in your heart or you might feel closer to Christ by doing "good" no matter what the circumstances, THAT should be the goal of all Christians. Many Christians are good people just because they always have their Lord in mind and that is great, that is exactly what religion is for. Christians or people of any or no faith DO NOT have the right to make a decision or instill a belief if it is not asked of them. It's not that you shouldn't speak your mind, it's that you shouldn't speak without thinking about what your words will mean to whom you are speaking; God gave us a brain for a reason. No human is perfect because we have the intelligence to act as we desire. It requires knowledge to make the RIGHT decision, and only Jesus is all knowing. Not a single person who is alive today knows what Heaven or Hell are really like BECAUSE WE AREN'T THERE.
I trust the concrete fossilized evidence of the evolution of the universe and the red-shifted light coming from distant stars, while I also believe there is a higher being with with at least a more comprehensive meaning of live. Whether physical, spiritual or most likely something humans can't understand yet, we all here to LIVE LIFE and hopefully we find the meaning.
3-25-2011 @ 6:07AM
pete said...As politely as I can possibly put it... Slayer, you're a jerk. I bet your mother and fathers are proud of the pile of "poo" they created...
3-21-2011 @ 2:12PM
george said...yea right, if his Dad was not a pastor i think a little different, to bad parents use there kids for there 5-minutes of fame on T.V.
Reply
3-21-2011 @ 2:14PM
george said...also look close at the kids eyes during the interview, he is looking for his dad to make sure he is saying everything right, what a crock of b.s., the parents should go to jail.
Reply
3-21-2011 @ 2:19PM
trish said...Yes I do believe this with all my heart. My own son has told me that he spoke to Jeses, and he's MRD, he was very, very sick a few years ago and it wasn't looking so good. After my son got better I'd hear him talking and carrying on a conversation with some one NOT in the room, I'd ask him who he was talking to and he'd answer "Jeses", and that Jeses said he'd be ok. It would make my son VERY happy when he was talking to Jeses, his face looked different, happy. My son is 30 now and he hasn't said that for quite a whil now, but I know he did talk with Jeses.
Reply
3-21-2011 @ 3:06PM
Ken said...Who is Jeses? At first I thought it was a typo, but you spelled it that way through the entire story! Have we been praying to the wrong guy... Jesus? Maybe that explains everything!!!
3-21-2011 @ 2:16PM
STEVE said...i hope thats all true, my 20 yr old daughter is in heaven, i hope to see her again someday
Reply
3-21-2011 @ 3:48PM
Jane said...It's even better than this. Believe it or not, your daughter can hear you and feel your love. Please don't just believe that your daughter will only be around you when you pass, she's always with you.
4-05-2011 @ 6:23PM
jesker said...Dear Steve, You will most definitely see your daughter again! And I know she sees you now. Each of us are on a life journey and we have things to learn - spiritual and otherwise., People on the "other side" can see us but aren't supposed to communicate a lot with us because they are not supposed to interfere with our spiritual journeys on earth. Like, if they told you what was going to happen, you may not experience the event as you would have and thus not learn the 'lesson' in that situation. If you ask for a sign, I know she will send it to you...but it may not be in the way you think it will come. I can give you an example... if you hit reply then your email will come to my email and I will reply. Please believe that you will see her again and that she loves you very much. May God soften the grief you feel.
3-21-2011 @ 2:16PM
george said...I also believe there is a God, & i believe in miracles, but please stop using your kids for fame.
Reply
3-21-2011 @ 3:00PM
bugaloosnana said...How is trying to get the word out about Heaven, God and Jesus seeking fame? I commend these people. After all it is our job as born again Christians to try to tell as many people as we can about how to get to Heaven. If they can reach even one person with their story, their job is done.
3-21-2011 @ 6:42PM
Hogwash said...bugaloosnana, are you saying it's ok to lie in order to "get the word out" about Heaven? Doesn't that go against one of the 10 commandments?
3-21-2011 @ 2:18PM
linda_jones_1959 said...I really believe the child in what he says. How would he be able to see where his father was and what he was doing if he couldn't see it from the other side. I can't believe the child is lying or making it up because it really happened!
Reply
3-21-2011 @ 3:26PM
mike said...you believe it because it's true? why? because he is really good at repeating a rehearsed story,, heres a true story i saw elvis at walmart yesterday,, must be true i just told you so
3-21-2011 @ 2:22PM
amksinny said...I believe every word this boy says. My daughter died in my arms at the age of 7 years. It was a gloomy day, but the lights were on in her hospital room. She asked, why is it so dark ?, please turn on the lights. She was very weak and then she said, As she put her hands towards the window, look at the sun mommy. It is soooooooooo beautiful. Look at the angels and the flowers. I am going to die. Please don't cry mommy. She died. I never discussed death with her. I couldn't. I am very happy this little boy is here. God bless all of them.
Reply