90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life by Don Piper

(on CD, narrated by the author)

Reviewed by Debbie Ash

Ruth Neibur recommended this book so I was happy to find it in the church library on CD., This is the true story of a Christian pastor who was in a car accident and pronounced dead by three EMTs who checked him at different times over the 90 minutes right after the accident. In the book, he spends a relatively short time telling of his experience in heaven--a tale which I found most comforting. It was the experience of returning to his mangled body and working through months and years of depression, anger, and slow, painful recovery that is the main part of his story. It is inspiring to hear how God used that whole incident to turn his life into an even more powerful ministry. The author said that he felt his time in Heaven was a very personal experience and he did not really talk about it until much later, at which time his friends encouraged him to write this book (published 15 years after the accident.) I came away with a greater peace that, as God's child, I do not need to be afraid of death. Also, a renewed conviction of the power of prayer. A good book--I recommend it.

Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza

Reviewed by Isobel Testardi

On the cover, Immaculee appears a strong, confident, beautiful woman of the Tutsi tribe who survived the 1994 Rwandan holocaust. As I read each chapter, she became more and more beautiful to me. It must be what they call the 'Christ light' shining through somebody. I would normally have no interest in reading a horrific true story of a holocaust, but Immaculee tells how she was able to conquer the evil all around her and keep her eyes on God, while hiding in a tiny bathroom with 6 other women for 3 months. They could hear the 'kill chant' outside their window as Hutus hunted the area for the minority Tutsis. Immaculee was able to make her time in the bathroom productive and learn English from an old Bible! Instead of coming out of it defeated and in despair, Imaculee is of sound mind and ready to send a message of peace and forgiveness to the world. Her story will give you the conviction that you too can get through any tragedy, and with Christ, turn it to good.

The List (a DVD)

Reviewed by Arlene Martin

Pat and I watched this fictional story last night. It is about a group of men who belong to an exclusive, wealthy club which dates back to the Civil War. These men make the rules and punish anyone who opposes them. When Renny's father dies, he finds himself in the middle of this group with a lot to learn and a lot to lose including his inheritance and his job and his friends.

Thanks to the caring of a few praying individuals, Renny is exonerated from the spells cast upon him by the men of the List. But not before he experiences some super-natural occurences that put his girlfriend in a hospital bed and him in jail with his life in jeopardy. Clearly, the message of the film is that prayer is powerful because it is the only recourse for Renny.

I liked the little bit of romance and understood the kind of evil that the men on the List portrayed. But the super-natural events simply lost me. In order to believe in the power of prayer, you almost had to buy into the super-natural events, too. I just couldn't do it.

This is a newish DVD for our library, but the book is also on our fiction shelf. I'm wondering if you would agree with my assessment. After you've read it or watched the DVD, click on "comments" and let me know!