Book Review-Submitted November 2011
Published on Book Sneeze & Amazon
Heaven is for Real DVD based conversation kit by Todd Burpo
This product consists of a DVD with five presentations that are meant to be used to create discussion. Also included in this product is discussion book that guides the use of the DVD provides Scripture passages, questions, journal space, commentary, prayer and more. The product is based on the widely read book, Heaven is for Real. The DVD sessions include Colton Burpo along with his parents and use dialogue and question and answer format. Given the excitement around the book, I was interested to see what this product would be like.
My honest and simple assessment is that this product falls dramatically short and it is my opinion that consumers should stick with the book and avoid this DVD and Discussion Guide as it ruins what I believe was a great book. This product attempts to take a great story and do more with it, which is a noble endeavor that has fallen short. What was perhaps best about the book was that it was a story without an agenda, the author simply told the amazing story of Colton and his experience. This product seems to have an agenda and appears to be seeking to leverage the story for a particular end. The tone of this product, while casual seems to lean more towards a simplistic theological approach that would likely fall in the fundamentalist vain of Evangelical Christian thinking. The greatest failing of this product is that it is clear that it has an agenda instead of taking the opportunity to simply engage people in this great story that speaks for itself. The use of Scripture and questions in the discussion guide are selective and closed in nature. The DVD sessions are enjoyable, but I was surprised to find that it consisted of mini-sermons and directed questions instead of hearing from Colton who appears to struggle to remember the story years later with the passion that I had expected. In the end, this product is a big disappointment and I would not use or recommend it. Some of the things talked about were far too obvious to make the videos worth watching. Stick with the book, because the book is great and this product could ruin it for you.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Rev. Marcus J Carlson