Book review: 90 Minutes In Heaven

Book review: 90 Minutes In Heaven by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey

Subtitle: A True Story of Death & Life

The author was killed in a devastating auto crash when his Ford Escort was run over by a careening 18-wheeler driven by an unlicensed prison inmate. But another pastor who had just left the same church conference prayed over his dead body for an hour and a half, finally to be joined by the dead man in singing a hymn.

This brief (205 page paperback) book is the story of the death, resuscitation, and eventual healing of Don Piper. He was not an ideal patient, obediently accepting every event as ordained by God. He had seen heaven and wanted to be there. He suffered continual pain and wanted to be free of it. He realized only later the depth of the series of miracles that had brought him back from death to a productive and fulfilling life.

The lesson that I see most clearly in the pages of 90 Minutes In Heaven is that despite our failings, God really does “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.” [Romans 8:28, New American Standard Bible] Although I didn't understand as the author struggled with his pain and other trials, as later events unfolded, I could see that only because of his struggles and doubts could he most effectively minister to others who struggled and doubted. Don Piper now has a much different ministry than he had prior to the crash that killed him. I do not believe that God planned the accident, but rather than God used the events of the accident and the author's eventual recovery to prove that He still is God and is in charge of everything on earth and in heaven.

With my focus on wellness, I see another lesson as well. Don Piper can no longer kneel down to talk with children “on their level.” He has many physical limitations because of the injuries he suffered in the crash. But I believe that Don Piper is well, as I define wellness. As I stated on my website in 2006, “True wellness is more than just health; it is having a healthy, compassionate heart and mind in a healthy body. 
I can imagine situations in which a person may be physically limited and still fit my definition of wellness.”