On My Bookshelf: Appointments With Heaven by Reggie Anderson

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I received a copy of this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Wow.  Just wow.

If you’ve ever wondered if there’s anything more to life, or asked the question “Why, God?”  you’ve just got to pick up Appointments with Heaven.

Normally I chuck a book to the side after finishing it.  Like wiping my face with a napkin and pushing away from the table, the experience ends when I turn the last page of the book.  Appointments With Heaven changed my life.  It changed the way I see things and the way I see God.  Written by author Reggie Anderson (hey, he’s kind of local…..living in Tennessee at least!) this book shares the coincidences that might otherwise seem normal, but when the dots are connected they shine with God’s light.  The book starts with a foreword by Stephen and Mary Beth Chapman.  In it, the accidental death of their youngest daughter is mentioned.  I remember hearing about that terrible tragedy on the radio; I prayed for the Chapmans for weeks after hearing that news.  In fact, whenever I hear a Stephen Curtis Chapman song on the radio I take a moment to pray for their family.   The foreword explains that the beginnings of Appointments With Heaven were penned after the family’s tragedy.  It hit me that we were praying the same prayer at the same time; while the Andersons were ministering to the Chapman’s needs thousands of other believers were lifting them up in prayer.  We’re all connected in the family of God.  Likewise, when one sheep strays from the flock, the rest of us need to help it find its way back.  Anderson’s words remind me of that message time and again in the stories he shares.

It’s clear that Anderson has been blessed in unique ways.  He seems to have a special gift for recognizing God’s work in his life.  He must have been quite an interesting child, too.  Through his shared memories, Anderson demonstrates the unusual insight he had even as a child.  He was no stranger to hard work and sacrifice.  He exemplifies the Southern boy that I picture in my mind when I imagine the 1960’s.   Helping a grandparent or an uncle was a part of life in those days; have we lost that sense of family pride?  I hope not. It’s impossible to read about his work on the watermelon farm without thinking back to my own childhood.  I remember helping my grandmother bake bread and working with my parents in our small garden.  Those were good times.  Looking back, I can see that those experiences also shaped who I am.  It reminds me to provide those moments for my own children, too.

Beyond the nostalgia, Appointments With Heaven also provides a scaffold for faith.  Whether the reader is walking closely with Jesus or is unsure of the existence of God, this book will fill an open spot in one’s heart.  It would be a salve for those who have suffered loss, no matter how recent that might be.  I can also suggest this book as a gentle guide for those who are facing death.  Anderson’s words were encouraging and uplifting for me.  I hope they will do the same for you.

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Comments

  1. Jenn @comebackmomma says

    Sounds like a very interesting read. Thanks for sharing.

  2. We can all use a reminder to open our eyes a little wider and appreciate the smaller blessings. This sounds like a great read!

  3. This definitely sounds like a tear jerker, but like a story we can all relate to in some way. I think most people struggle with their relationship with God after a tragedy, I know that I have at least. Thanks for sharing your review.
    Laura recently posted…Sentimental SundayMy Profile

  4. I like that it is a good book for Death as well. Would you recommend for someone who has recently lost their husband?

    • I think so…..it’s really powerful for someone who needs reassurance that God is there, holding our hands as we enter the afterlife.

  5. This is definitely a book that I am going to read. I am sure that it will cause me to cry but I think I would love the story line. Thanks for sharing.

  6. Sounds like a truly interesting read!!! I am scared of talking about the subject so this book would be good for me!

  7. This sounds like a very comforting read, perhaps appropriate for those of us who may be missing loved ones this holiday season.

  8. This sounds like a interesting book. One that will make someone really think about life and death and open their eyes. This is one I would read. thanks

  9. I have a lot of good Christian books. I like deep penetrating discussion about God and what he does in people’s lives. I always read the Bible first to make sure that I am grounded in God’s word. I like the sound of this book and it sounds like it can really give me insight into God at a deeper level. I will have to check this book out.

  10. This is something I would really like to read need to get this one thanks for sharing.

  11. Misha Estrada says

    This sounds like a very interesting book. I’ll have to put it on my to-read list.

  12. amanda whitley says

    this would be a great gift for my nana as she has recently suffered a loss.

  13. THIS IS ONE BOOK I WOULD LIKE TO READ

Trackbacks

  1. […] you love is close to death, first of all — I’m sorry. Last summer I shared the book Appointments With Heaven on the blog and I think you’d really like it. There is a reason that this book has a 5 star […]

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